''Groupe de Chasse'' or ''groupe de chasse'' (usually abbreviated as GC) is the
French language
French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Nor ...
term for "
fighter group" or "fighter
wing". 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 ''
escadrilles'', each of which comprises 10–12 aircraft. The commanding officer of a ''GC'' is usually a ''
Commandant'', ''
Lieutenant-colonel'' or ''
Colonel''.
Units
Specific units known by the name ''groupe de chasse'' include:
;''
Groupe de Chasse (Belgium) The Groupe de Chasse was Belgium's first dedicated fighter wing. It was created in March 1918 at Les Moëres aerodrome near Veurne. On request of King Albert I, Captain-commandant Fernand Jacquet was appointed Commanding Officer, and the ''Groupe ...
'' :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
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 Army; ...
''
* ''
Armée de l'air de Vichy''
* ''
Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres''
Units
;''
Groupe de Chasse I/1''
;''
Groupe de Chasse I/3
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