Escadron de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes

Fighter Squadron 1/2 Cigognes
Escadron de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes
Dassault Mirage 2000-5F of the 1/2 seen during exercise Red Flag at Nellis AFB.
ActiveNovember 1945 - present
CountryFrance France
Branch Armée de l'air et de l'espace
TypeFighter aircraft
RoleAir Defense
Part of2e Escadre de Chasse
Garrison/HQBA 116 Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur Air Base
Aircraft flown
FighterDassault Mirage 2000-5F

Escadron de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes (Fighter Squadron 1/2 Cigognes) is a French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) fighter squadron currently stationed at BA 116 Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur Air Base, Haute-Saône, France (ICAO: LFSX).[1]

It inherits the traditions of three notable World War I units: SPA 3 of the famous ace Georges Guynemer, SPA 26, SPA 103 of René Fonck, and SPA 12.[2]

Heir to Escadrille 3 (the "Cigognes" Escadrille), EC 1/2 Cigognes was created in November 1945, by reorganizing No. 329 Squadron RAF, which was constituted by pilots of the Groupe de Chasse 1/2 Cigognes after the armistice of 1940. The latter was deployed to French Indochina, and flew combat missions on Supermarine Spitfires, with Escadrille SPA 3 stationed in Saigon and the SPA 103 stationed in Hanoi. Upon its return to mainland France, the squadron converted to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in 1948.

  1. ^ "Escadron de chasse 01.002 " Cigognes "" (in French). French MoD. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  2. ^ French Air Force web site (Archived 2009-09-03) (fr).