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Escadron de Chasse(Fighter Squadron 3/11 Corse) is aFrench Air and Space Force(Armée de l'air et de l'espace)fightersquadroncurrently stationed at BA 188Djibouti Air Base(ICAO:HDAM).[1]
| Fighter Squadron 3/11 Corsica | |
|---|---|
| Escadron de Chasse 3/11 Corse | |
 Squadron insgnia | |
| Active | August 1933 - present |
| Country |  France |
| Branch |  Armée de l'air et de l'espace |
| Type | Fighter aircraft |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Air Forces Command |
| Garrison/HQ | BA 188 Djibouti (Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport) |
| Engagements | World War II Indochina War Suez Crisis Algerian War Western Sahara War Gulf War Bosnian War |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Dassault Mirage 20005-F |
The squadron is composed of three historic escadrilles (Flights), C46, SPA 69, and SPA 88, dating back decades and with many historical traditions.
Second World War
editAt the outbreak of the Second World War, Groupe de Chasse I/3 (GC I/3) was equipped with theMorane-Saulnier MS.406.After seeing combat during thePhoney War,GC I/3 relocated to southern France. While atCannes-Mandelieu,the unit converted to the newDewoitine D.520fighter. When theBattle of Francebegan in May 1940, it was the only unit to be operationally ready with the D.520, which it first took to battle on May 12 after hastily relocating toWez-Thuisy.In late June 1940, as the collapse of the French armies was inevitable, GC I/3 crossed theMediterraneanto escape capture. Here it went under control of theVichy government.After three of its pilots, including aceMarcel Albert,had defected toGibraltarto join theFree French,the Germans requested GC I/3 to be disbanded. However, the unit was simply renamed GC III/3, using the designation of a squadron that had been disbanded the previous year. Under this guise, the unit briefly faced the Allies duringOperation Torch.
After French forces in North Africa had sided with the Allies, the unit was re-christenedGC 1/3Corseand was re-equipped withSupermarine Spitfirefighters.
It then operated under theRoyal Air Force,which referred to it asNo. 327 (French) Squadron.No. 327 Squadron was active from 1 December 1943 until November 1945.
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^"Chiffres clés de l'Armée de l'air - L'Armée de l'air en chiffres: 2019-2020 (FR)".French Air and Space Force.RetrievedNovember 8,2020.
Bibliography
edit- Halley, James J.The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988.Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988.ISBN0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G.RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912.Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001.ISBN1-84037-141-2.
- Lavergne, Pierre & Regazzoni, Herminio (July 1999). "Courrier des Lecteurs" [Readers' Letters].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (76): 13–15.ISSN1243-8650.
- Rawlings, John D.R.Fighters Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft.London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers)Ltd., 1969 (New revised edition 1976, reprinted 1978).ISBN0-354-01028-X.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (February 1999). "Historique du" Corse ": I) Les escadrilles Spa 69 et Spa 88 en 1914/1918" [History of "Corse": The Squadrons Spa 69 and Spa 88 in 1914–1918].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (71): 48–55.ISSN1243-8650.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (March 1999). "Historique du" Corse ": II) Le GC I/3 pendant la Second Guerre Mondiale" [History of "Corse": GC I/3 During the Second World War].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (72): 13–19.ISSN1243-8650.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (April 1999). "Historique du" Corse "(III) Mosquito en Indochine" [History of "Corse": Mosquitos in Indochina].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (73): 12–18.ISSN1243-8650.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (May 1999). "Historique du" Corse "(fin) Spitfire, Hellcat et Bearcat sur l'Indochine" [History of "Corse": Spitfire, Hellcat and Bearcat in Indochina].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (74): 14–21.ISSN1243-8650.
External links
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