Escadrille 12 was equipped initially with Nieuport IV.M two-seat monoplanes aircraft; hence its original designation as Escadrille N 12. It took the Nieuports into World War I, but was then re-equipped with Morane-Saulnier Lmonoplanes on 28 February 1915. In accordance with French custom, it was renamed Escadrille MS 12. By this time, the unit was assigned to V Armee of the French ground forces.[1]
In September 1915, the escadrille re-equipped once again, with Nieuport 11 single seat fighters, and it once again became Escadrille N 12. In subsequent months, it would also acquire Nieuport 12 two seat fighters, Nieuport 16s, and Nieuport 17s.[1]
On 8 July 1916, it was cited in orders. It moved to a new assignment with II Armee on 5 October 1916. On 1 November 1916, it was one of four escadrilles consolidated into Groupe de Combat 11, the other Nieuport escadrilles being Escadrilles N31, N48, and N57.[1]
As a component of GC 11, the escadrille was reassigned to V Armee in April 1917. In July, GC 11 moved to 1er Armee in Flanders. On 16 September 1917, it was transferred to VI Armee. In December, it upgraded to SPADs and thus became Escadrille Spa12.[1]
Groupe de Combat 11 joined Groupe de Combat 13 and Groupe de Combat 17 to form Escadre de Combat No. 2 on 27 February 1918. In turn, Escadre de Combat No. 2 was subsumed into the 1er Division Aerienne on 14 May 1918. On 16 May 1918, Escadrille Spa 12 was cited by General Philippe Pétain for its prowess in destroying 34 enemy aircraft and two observation balloons. On 28 May 1918, GC II was detached from Escadre de Combat No. 2 and assigned to support VI Armee and V Armee. On 23 September 1918, GC 11 was moved to IV Armee. They made their final move on 6 November, to VIII Armee. When the war ended five days later, Escadrille Spa12 had been credited with victories over 43 enemy aircraft and seven observation balloons.[1]
The heritage of the Escadrille 12 continues in the present day French air force.
Commanding officers
Escadrille N12, MS12, N12:
Capitaine Aubry
Capitaine Raymond de Pierre de Bernis: 12 May 1915 - 11 January 1918
Franks, Norman; Frank W. Bailey. Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 Grub Street, 1992. ISBN0-948817-54-2, ISBN978-0-948817-54-0.
Further reading
Bailey, Frank W., and Christophe Cony. French Air Service War Chronology, 1914-1918: Day-to-Day Claims and Losses by French Fighter, Bomber and Two-Seat Pilots on the Western Front. London: Grub Street, 2001.
Davilla, James J., and Arthur M. Soltan. French Aircraft of the First World War. Stratford, CT: Flying Machines Press, 1997.
Les escadrilles de l'aéronautique militaire française: symbolique et histoire, 1912-1920. Vincennes: Service historique de l'armée de l'air, 2004. ISBN2-11-094692-X
External links
Escadrille N 12 - MS 12 - N12 - SPA 12
This article about a specific French military unit is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
escadrille, escadrille, french, force, formed, 1912, known, introducing, nieuport, aircraft, world, combat, escadrille, 12fuselage, insignia, escadrille, 12active1916country, francebranch, french, servicetypefighter, squadronengagementsworld, contents, history. Escadrille 12 of the French Air Force was formed in 1912 and known for introducing Nieuport aircraft to the World War I air combat Escadrille N 12 MS 12 N12 SPA 12Fuselage insignia of Escadrille 12Active1916Country FranceBranch French Air ServiceTypeFighter SquadronEngagementsWorld War I Contents 1 History 2 Commanding officers 3 Notable personnel 4 Aircraft 5 Endnotes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory EditEscadrille 12 was equipped initially with Nieuport IV M two seat monoplanes aircraft hence its original designation as Escadrille N 12 It took the Nieuports into World War I but was then re equipped with Morane Saulnier L monoplanes on 28 February 1915 In accordance with French custom it was renamed Escadrille MS 12 By this time the unit was assigned to V Armee of the French ground forces 1 In September 1915 the escadrille re equipped once again with Nieuport 11 single seat fighters and it once again became Escadrille N 12 In subsequent months it would also acquire Nieuport 12 two seat fighters Nieuport 16s and Nieuport 17s 1 On 8 July 1916 it was cited in orders It moved to a new assignment with II Armee on 5 October 1916 On 1 November 1916 it was one of four escadrilles consolidated into Groupe de Combat 11 the other Nieuport escadrilles being Escadrilles N31 N48 and N57 1 As a component of GC 11 the escadrille was reassigned to V Armee in April 1917 In July GC 11 moved to 1er Armee in Flanders On 16 September 1917 it was transferred to VI Armee In December it upgraded to SPADs and thus became Escadrille Spa12 1 Groupe de Combat 11 joined Groupe de Combat 13 and Groupe de Combat 17 to form Escadre de Combat No 2 on 27 February 1918 In turn Escadre de Combat No 2 was subsumed into the 1er Division Aerienne on 14 May 1918 On 16 May 1918 Escadrille Spa 12 was cited by General Philippe Petain for its prowess in destroying 34 enemy aircraft and two observation balloons On 28 May 1918 GC II was detached from Escadre de Combat No 2 and assigned to support VI Armee and V Armee On 23 September 1918 GC 11 was moved to IV Armee They made their final move on 6 November to VIII Armee When the war ended five days later Escadrille Spa12 had been credited with victories over 43 enemy aircraft and seven observation balloons 1 The heritage of the Escadrille 12 continues in the present day French air force Commanding officers EditEscadrille N12 MS12 N12 Capitaine Aubry Capitaine Raymond de Pierre de Bernis 12 May 1915 11 January 1918 Lieutenant Armand de Turenne 12 January 1918 end of war Groupe de Combat 11 Commandant Auguste le Reverend 1 November 1916 24 January 1917 Capitaine Edouard Duseigneur 25 January 1917 19 June 1918 Capitaine Marcel Bonnefay 20 June 1918 Escadre de Combat No 2 Chef de Bataillon Philippe Fequant 27 February 1918 1er Division Aerienne General Duval 1 Notable personnel EditArmand de Turenne Henri Languedoc Pierre Dufaur de Gavardie Joseph M X de Sevin 1 Aircraft EditNieuport VI M Nieuport 10 Morane Saulnier L 28 February 1915 Nieuport 11 September 1915 Nieuport 12 Nieuport 16 Nieuport 17 SPAD December 1917 1 Endnotes Edit a b c d e f g h Franks Bailey 1992 p 89 References EditFranks Norman Frank W Bailey Over the Front A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services 1914 1918 Grub Street 1992 ISBN 0 948817 54 2 ISBN 978 0 948817 54 0 Further reading EditBailey Frank W and Christophe Cony French Air Service War Chronology 1914 1918 Day to Day Claims and Losses by French Fighter Bomber and Two Seat Pilots on the Western Front London Grub Street 2001 Davilla James J and Arthur M Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War Stratford CT Flying Machines Press 1997 Les escadrilles de l aeronautique militaire francaise symbolique et histoire 1912 1920 Vincennes Service historique de l armee de l air 2004 ISBN 2 11 094692 XExternal links EditEscadrille N 12 MS 12 N12 SPA 12 This article about a specific French military unit is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Escadrille Spa 12 amp oldid 1134076099, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
