''Escadrille Spa.69'' (originally named ''Escadrille N.69'') was a French fighter squadron derived from one of its military's oldest aviation units. Active from September 1915 until the 11 November 1918 Armistice, the ''escadrille'' campaigned on both the Western and Italian Fronts with ''X Armee''. It was credited with 38 aerial combat victories.

History

''Escadrille Spa.69'' had its origins in one of France's oldest military aviation units; BL C5 was an observation unit flying Bleriots that was attached to the cavalry. Personnel were drawn from BL C5 in September 1915 to form ''Escadrille N. 69'', which was equipped with

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 ...

fighters.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 96 The squadron was posted to ''X Armee''. On 28 February 1916, the ''escadrille'' moved to the

Battle of Verdun The Battle of Verdun ( ; ) was fought from 21 February to 18 December 1916 on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in French Third Republic, France. The battle was the longest of the First World War and took place on the hills north ...

. They returned to ''X Armee'' in July. When the squadron had notched 20 aerial victories, 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 28 October 1917, the squadron accompanied ''X Armee'' to the Italian theater of operations. While in Italy, the squadron was re-equipped with SPAD fighters, changing its name to ''Escadrille Spa.69''. The newly outfitted squadron accompanied ''X Armee'' in its return to the Western Front, transferring on 26 March 1918. On 30 September 1918, ''Escadrille Spa.69'' was Mentioned in dispatches a second time, credited with destruction of 34 enemy aircraft. This second citation gave the unit the right to display the Fourragere of the ''

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

''. By the Armistice, ''Escadrille Spa.69'' was credited with destroying 38 enemy aircraft.

Commanding officers

* ''Capitaine''

Robert Massenet-Royer de Marancour ''Chef de Bataillon'' (later General) Robert Leon Henri Massenet-Royer de Marancour was a French World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.The Aerodrome websitRetrieved on 21 August 2020 Biography See also Aerial victory standard ...

: Until 25 January 1917. * Lieutenant

Paul Malavialle Capitaine Paul Louis Malavialle was a French World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.The Aerodrome websitRetrieved 19 August 2020 Biography See also Aerial victory standards of World War I Paul Louis Malavialle was born in Sai ...

: 25 January 1917 until war's end.

Notable members

* Major

Fernand Bonneton Commandant Fernand Bonneton was a French World War I flying ace credited with nine confirmed aerial victories. He would survive the war, only to die in an aviation accident on 24 June 1922. Early life Fernand Bonneton was born in La Coucourde, n ...

* ''Capitaine''

* Lieutenant

Honoré de Bonald Honoré is a name of French origin and may refer to several people or places: Given name Sovereigns of Monaco Lords of Monaco * Honoré I of Monaco Princes of Monaco * Honoré II of Monaco * Honoré III of Monaco * Honoré IV of Monaco * Honor� ...

* Sergeant

Paul Rodde Paul Georges Alexandre Rodde (17 May 1894 – 29 October 1917) was a French World War I flying ace credited with five confirmed aerial victories. Biography Georges Alexandre Rodde was born on 17 May 1894 in Fontainebleau, France.''Over the Front: ...

Aircraft

* Blériot observation aircraft while still BL C5 *

fighters: September 1915 * SPAD fighters: c. November 1917 until war's end

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. . * {{wwi-air Fighter squadrons of the French Air and Space Force Military units and formations established in 1915 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