''Escadrille Spa.152'' (originally ''Escadrille N.152'') was a French fighter squadron active 1917 through 1918 during World War I. It was credited with destruction of 15 German airplanes, 27

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 ...

s, and a

Zeppelin A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin () who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century. Zeppelin's notions were first formulated in 1874Eckener 1938, pp. 155� ...

History

''Escadrille Spa.152'' was formed under ''VII Armee'' auspices at Lyon-Bron, France on 9 July 1917. As a

Nieuport Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars. History Beginnings Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...

fighter squadron, it was designated ''Escadrille N.152''. In May 1918, the squadron refitted with SPAD fighters, and was renamed ''Escadrille Spa.152''. On 4 June 1918, it was incorporated into a makeshift unit that became ''

Groupe de Combat 22 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 ...

'' on 1 July 1918. The ''Groupe'' was shifted about in its combat operations between three French field armies as the war ground down to its 11 November 1918 ceasefire. Final aerial victory credits for the squadron came to destruction of 15 enemy airplanes, 27

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.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 105

Commanding officers

* Lieutenant

Charles Lefevre Charles Eugene Joseph Marie Lefevre (1893-1948) was a French flying ace credited with six aerial victories during the First World War. He led two different fighter squadrons into combat to do so, and won the ''Legion d'honneur'' for his exploits. ...

: 9 July 1917 - 20 November 1917 * Lieutenant Louis Delrieu: 20 November 1917 - 19 August 1918 * ''Capitaine'' L. Bonne: 19 August 1918 - Armistice

Notable members

* Lieutenant

Léon Bourjade Léon Bourjade (25 May 1889 – 22 October 1924), born Jean-Pierre Léon Bourjade, was a Flying ace, leading French fighter pilot in World War I, notable for being his country's leading balloon-busting ace. He interrupted his theological studies t ...

* '' Sous lieutenant''

Ernest Maunoury Sous Lieutenant Ernest Joseph Jules Maunoury was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories. He survived the war, only to die in a flying accident on 21 September 1921. Early life Ernest Joseph ...

Aircraft

fighters: 9 July 1917 - May 1918 * SPAD fighters: May 1918 onwards

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