''Groupe de Chasse'' or ''groupe de chasse'' (usually abbreviated as GC) is the
French language
French ( or ) is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European family. Like all other Romance languages, it descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire. French evolved from Northern Old Gallo-R ...
term for "
fighter group
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...
" or "fighter
wing
A wing is a type of fin that produces both Lift (force), lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform (aeronautics), planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-d ...
". More literal translations include "pursuit group" (the US term for fighter groups prior to 1942) and "hunting group" (similar to the German language ''
Jagdgruppe'' or ''JG'').
Composition
A ''group de chasse'' may include one to four ''
escadrille
A flight is a small military unit within the larger structure of an air force, Naval aviation, naval air service, or Army aviation, army air corps; and is usually subordinate to a larger Squadron (aviation), squadron. A military aircraft fligh ...
s'', each of which comprises 10–12 aircraft. The commanding officer of a ''GC'' is usually a ''
Commandant
Commandant ( or ; ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ...
'', ''
Lieutenant-colonel'' or ''
Colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
''.
Units
Specific units known by the name ''groupe de chasse'' include:
;''
Groupe de Chasse (Belgium)'' :a Belgian unit of World War I
;''
Groupe de Chasse Polonaise I/145'': a Polish unit fighting alongside France in 1940
France
Including:
* ''
Armee de l'Air''
* ''
Armée de l'air de Vichy''
* ''
Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres''
Units
;''
Groupe de Chasse I/1''
;''
Groupe de Chasse I/3''
;''
Groupe de Chasse I/8''
;''
Groupe de Chasse I/13''
;''
Groupe de Chasse II/1''
;''
Groupe de Chasse II/5''
;''
Groupe de Chasse II/6''
;''
Groupe de Chasse II/8 ''
;''
Groupe de Chasse II/9''
;''
Groupe de Chasse II/10''
;''
Groupe de Chasse III'' (''Normandie-Niemen'')
;''
Groupe de Chasse III/2'' (''GC Alsace'')
;''
Groupe de Chasse III/3''
;''
Normandie-Niemen'' (also known as ''GC III'')
;''
Groupe de Chasse Alsace'' (''GC III/2'')
;''
Groupe de Chasse III/6''
;''
Groupe de Chasse III/9''
;''
Groupe de Chasse III/10''
;''
Groupe de Chasse III/13''
;''
Groupe de Chasse IV/2'' (''GC Île-de-France'')
;''
Groupe de Chasse Île-de-France'' (also known as ''GC IV/2'')
References
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Air force units and formations
Air units and formations of France in World War II
Military units and formations of the French Air and Space Force
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fr:Groupe de Chasse