''Escadrille Spa.84'' (originally ''Escadrille N.84'') was a French fighter squadron active in World War I during 1917 and 1918. They were credited with destroying 24 German airplanes and one

observation balloon An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for gathering intelligence and spotting artillery. The use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World ...

History

''Escadrille Spa.84'' was founded on 6 January 1917 at Ravenal, France. It was principally equipped with

Nieuport 24 The Nieuport 24 (or Nieuport XXIV C.1 in contemporary sources) was a World War I French sesquiplane fighter aircraft designed by Gustave Delage as a development of the successful Nieuport 17. The Nieuport 24 had the misfortune to be the penul ...

s, though it had some SPAD S.7s. On 22 March, it was incorporated into ''

Groupe de Combat 13 A group is a military unit or a military formation that is most often associated with military aviation. Air and aviation groups The terms group and wing differ significantly from one country to another, as well as between different branches o ...

'', posted to ''III Armee''. The ''groupe'' would be exchanged between armies half a dozen times during the course of the war.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'' By February 1918, the unit had become ''Escadrille Spa.84'' because it was wholly outfitted with SPAD 13 fighters. It was

Mentioned in dispatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of t ...

on 10 September 1918. By the Armistice on 11 November 1918, it was credited with destruction of 24 German airplanes and an

Commanding officers

* Lieutenant Paul Gastin: 6 January 1917 - 28 July 1917 * Lieutenant Andre Humieres: 28 July 1917 - 6 November 1917 * Lieutenant Paul Gastin: 6 November 1917 - 28 August 1918 * '' Sous lieutenant''

Pierre Wertheim ''Capitaine'' Pierre Armand Wertheim, alias Pierre Armand Wertheimer, (17 March 1888 – 30 April 1971) was a French World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.The Aerodrome website page on WertheiRetrieved on 10 September 2020 ...

: 28 August 1918 - 11 November 1918

Notable members

* '' Sous lieutenant'' Omer Demeuldre * ''Sous lieutenant''

Aircraft

s: 6 January 1917 - early 1918 * SPAD S.7s: 6 January 1917 - early 1918 * SPAD 13s: Early 1918

End notes

References

* Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). ''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'' London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. . Fighter squadrons of the French Air and Space Force Military units and formations established in 1917 Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 Military units and formations of France in World War I Military aviation units and formations in World War I {{France-mil-unit-stub