The 8^e Escadre de Chasse 8^e EC or 8th Fighter Wing is a fighter formation of the Fighter Brigade of the

French Air and Space Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Ar ...

, which was reformed on 25 August 2015 at

Cazaux Air Base Cazaux Air Base (french: Base aérienne 120 Cazaux) is a French Air and Space Force (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace) base. The base is located in the village of Cazaux, part of the town of La Teste-de-Buch, and is approximately southwe ...

. The unit has known previously various periods of activity: * On Aerial Base 108 Marignane, between 1 January 1936 and 1 May 1939; * In

Indochina Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...

, between 16 January 1951 and 27 July 1954; * In Morocco, on Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé, between 1 August 1955 and November 1960 * In Algeria on the base of Oran La Senia between November 1960 and July 1961 * At Nancy Ochey between July 1961 and 1 December 1961 * At Cazaux, between 1 February 1964 and 1 July 1993.

Composition

* Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 1/8 Saintonge * Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 2/8 Nice * Escadron d'Entraînement 3/8 Côte d'Or * Escadron de Soutien Technique Aéronautique 15/8 Pilat

Escadrons/Squadrons history

The 8^e Escadre possesses two historical squadrons, the "Saintonge" and "Nice". The squadron "Languedoc" was attached to the Escadre during ten years.

Before WWII

* Hunter Group - Groupe de Chasse I/8 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 May 1939 *Groupe de Chasse II/8 : from 1 January 1936 and 1 May 1939

Escadron/Squadron "Saintonge"

* Groupe Mixte I/8 Saintonge : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954 * Hunter Squadron Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Saintonge : from 9 September 1960 until 1 December 1961, and from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993

Escadron/Squadron "Languedoc"

* Groupe de Chasse II/8 Languedoc : from 1 August 1951 until 27 July 1954 * Escadron de chasse 2/8 Languedoc : from 1 August 1955 until 1 December 1961

Escadron/Squadron "Maghreb"

* Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Maghreb : from 1 August 1955 until September 1960

Escadron/Squadron "Nice"

* Escadron de Chasse 2/8 Nice : from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993

Bases

* Aerial Base 108 Marigane: from 1 January 1936 until 1 May 1939 * Indochina : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954 * Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé: from 1 August 1955 until the beginning of 1960 * Aerial Base Nancy-Ochey : from the beginning of 1960 until 1 December 1961 * Aerial Base 120 Cazaux : from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993, and as of 25 August 2015

Equipment

* Morane-Saulnier MS.225 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 January 1939 * Dewoitine D.500 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 January 1939 * Dewoitine D.510 : from 1 January 1939 until 1 May 1939 *

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt The P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Republic Aviation from 1941 to 1945. Early designs XP-47 (AP-10) In response to a USAAC requirement for a new fighter aircraft, Republic Aviation engineer Alexander Kartveli p ...

: from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954 * Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954 *

Mistral Mistral may refer to: * Mistral (wind) in southern France and Sardinia Automobiles * Maserati Mistral, a Maserati grand tourer produced from 1963 until 1970 * Nissan Mistral, or Terrano II, a Nissan 4×4 produced from 1993 until 2006 * Microp ...

: from 1 August 1955 until 1959 * Dassault Mystère IVA : from June 1959 until 1 December 1961, and from 1 February 1964 until 1982 *

Alpha Jet The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced jet trainer co-manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France and Dornier Flugzeugwerke of Germany. It was developed specifically to perform trainer and light attack missions, as ...

: from October 1982 until 31 July 1993, and as of 25 August 2015

References

{{Reflist, 30em Military units and formations of the French Air and Space Force Fighter aircraft units and formations Military units and formations established in 2015