Il y a 100 Ans Aujourd’hui, l’AS DES AS DE VERDUN disparaissait

Maxime LENOIR parmi les as français as des as jeu de cartes
Maxime LENOIR au centre parmi les as français

L’AS DES AS DE VERDUN 1916

25 octobre 2016 – (reprise de l’article https://airforces.fr/2014/12/22/among-greatest-pilots-maxime-lenoir-destiny/) Au plus fort de la bataille de Verdun, le lendemain de la reprise du fort de Douaumont, Maxime Lenoir devenait ce 25 octobre 1916 le 7e pilote français mort au combat sur son SPAD VII « Trompe la Mort« , mais il était aussi à ce moment-là:

L’as des as de Verdun depuis 3 mois
L’As des as des Alliés morts au combat
Le 1er double as français mort au combat
Le 3e as au monde en nombre de victoires parmi les pilotes morts au combat
Le 3e as français mort au combat après Pégoud et de Rochefort

D’après les recherches, il semble qu’il fut le premier pilote au monde à abattre un ballon de type Drachen en juin 1915. Il semblerait qu’il fut le premier au monde à abattre un Gotha le 25 septembre 1916. Maxime Lenoir a beaucoup souffert de ce combat qui lui a laissé une blessure sur le coin de l’oeil gauche. A l’exception d’une poignée de pilotes valeureux, ni René Fonck, ni les autres as alliés ne seraient parvenus à abattre une telle forteresse volante en 1916. Seuls Guynemer, avec l’aide de Chainat auraient enregistré une victoire sur Gotha le 8 février 1917. Quant à Nungesser, le redoutable, il en aurait descendu deux. Enfin et surtout, Maxime Lenoir, l’as aux 11 victoires, a été un des premiers à être décoré de la Legion d’honneur, la Médaille militaire, la Croix de guerre avec 8 palmes et 9 citations. Chose tout à fait exceptionnelle, on lui a aussi décerné les médailles d’or de l’ Aeroclub d’Amérique et de l’Aéroclub de France. Il a été le premier as avec entre autre Guynemer à recevoir de telles distinctions.

Didier Lecoq (journaliste à La Nouvelle République, co-auteur de L’Aviation militaire en Indre-et-Loire) a le premier fait resurgir Maxime Lenoir, l’as oublié, ce ‘“Guynemer de Touraine”’ depuis au moins 2010. Sans lui, Lenoir serait toujours un as oublié.

Maxime Lenoir, formé à Buc, exécutait à travers la France des représentations ‘“Looping the loop”’ sur Blériot XI depuis au moins le 7 février 1914.
Lenoir avait 11 victoires (la plupart remportées sur Nieuport) lorsqu’il fût porté disparu le 25/10/1916. En septembre 2014, Didier Lecoq (co-auteur de L’Aviation militaire en Indre-et-Loire) découvre que Lenoir a été abattu :

https://aeroplanedetouraine.fr/

Puis en novembre 2015 il reçoit l’information d’un historien collectionneur berlinois selon laquelle Lenoir aurait aussi reçu l’honneur d’une croix gravée par les allemands :

https://aeroplanedetouraine.fr/

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WWI AIR COMBAT – WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO

What is more natural than looking back over major aviation innovations of the Great War today, the anniversary of the Armistice? Here is a very interesting video posted by the BBC on how the fighter pilots dealt with reconnaissance, bombing missions and dogfight techniques. Primitive flight controls are well explained as is the interest of performing missions with a triplane aircraft – three sets of wings are necessarily more narrow, providing the pilot with a better visual field.

From the flimsy Blériot XI to Sopwiths and Fokkers, the first aces developed early methods that are always taught in fighter schools even though beyond-visual-range air combat has taken over since. Major Charles Tricornot de Rose was considered by many as the father of air fighting as early as 1914. Then as shown in this video, the German ace Oswald Boelcke laid out a first set of rules for dogfighting called the Dicta Boelcke. Pilots’ life expectancy was not measured in years but in weeks.

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AMONG GREATEST PILOTS – MAXIME LENOIR DESTINY

Maxime LENOIR - 11-victory ace in 1916
Maxime LENOIR – 11-victory ace in 1916 – was not born in Paris but Chargé, in the Loire Valley

Post in English – LE MÊME ARTICLE EN FRANÇAIS AU BAS DE CETTE PAGE:

December 22, 2014

Maxime LENOIR would have been 126 years old today.

Lenoir, Navarre, Guynemer, and Nungesser - WW1 Aces
Lenoir, Navarre, Guynemer, and Nungesser – WW1 Aces

He used to be one of the most renowned and talented pilots. He had been an aviation pioneer as he was among the very first pilots who performed the famous « looping the loop » aerobatic manoeuvre in the trail of Adolphe Pégoud between 1913 and 1914. He took part in a few air races, and a lot of air shows on his Blériot XI, nicknamed « Backjumper ». The local, national, and international press started to write articles about his prodigal sense of flying in the numerous airshows as the spectators cheered him every time he showed up. For instance, he was carried in triumph after he performed aerobatic manoeuvres above « La Girardière », the Girard family airfield in Chargé, his home village where up to 5,000 people were gathered to attend his air show in May 1914.

Lenoir was rising to fame when Archduke Franz-Ferdinand was murdered and as the « European war » broke out, he joined up shortly after. In spite of his exceptional flying skills, Maxime Lenoir was unfortunately compelled to join the French cavalry. He then kept on requesting an assignment in the brand new military aeronautics recently created by General Hirschauer, and became a fighter pilot. However, he was first posted to the target-shooting department at the C18 flight, then he was transferred to the N23 flight as a fighter pilot. He waged a devastating war over the trenches, and against the Prussian aviation in fierce air battles over Verdun. He tested new weapons, and airplanes. He became one of the first pilots to shoot down a balloon. After a few victories in 1915, he became the N23’s best fighter pilot in 1916 with 11 victories, and most decorated among prestigious names – Pinsard, Casale, Gilbert, de Beauchamp, Rochechouart de Mortemart, Brindejonc des Moulinais, Roland Garros, Pulpe (from Russia), Baumont, etc. He was the best ace in his flight, and even reached the top four French aces in 1916 as he remained in the top-two aces in the summer of that year.

Maxime Lenoir looping the loop and airshows on Bleriot monoplane - early 1914
Maxime Lenoir looping the loop and airshows – early 1914

According to German soldiers’ testimony, Lenoir was a very skillful and fearsome ace. They knew him well as they knew Navarre, Nungesser, Guynemer, Dorme, and Boelcke, of course. It is important to note that Mannock, Rickenbacker, Collishaw, Bishop, Löwenhardt, Little, Udet, McCudden, Fonck, Von Richthofen, Beauchamp-Proctor, and McLaren were not so famous at that time for some of them were not aces or did not have so many victories. Air war between 1914 and 1916 was totally different from 1917/1918. As Lenoir had trained at Blériot’s Buc airfield, the best aerobatic flying school, he was able to cope with a jammed machine gun and dodge the enemy fire. Like a toreador, and in a very skillful way, he could lure the enemy pilots when his fellow pilots were under heavy fire. He was the best bullet dodger but took a lot of risks, too much maybe. He flew back to Vadelaincourt airfield with his aircraft crippled with bullets many times. He never hesitated to help his fellow pilots whenever he could since he dared to face up to several German airplanes in a row. He was deemed to be a very good friend, as well as salvation in the sky of Verdun. For instance, when he learnt that his friend Navarre (nicknamed « Verdun’s sentinel ») had been shot down and seriously wounded on June 17th, 1916, he took off immediately. Alone, he made for the location where his friend had been downed, and dashed to an LVG C that he shot down without delay. He became so famous that either his name or his portrait featured on magazines, candy wrappers, and stamps, among the greatest aces in the hall of fame.

GUYNEMER, LENOIR, GARROS – 1916 stamps
GUYNEMER, LENOIR, GARROS – 1916

Maxime Lenoir had more than a hundred war missions, which was considerable at that time. Wounded twice in air combat, he kept on dogfighting. He took off the day after the take back of Fort Douaumont, wrecked havoc by the battle. He was flying his legendary SPAD VII tagged « Trompe la mort III » which meant « death-dodger » on October 25, 1916 when he was reported MIA until much later when he was declared « Dead for France ». However, he has never been found despite extensive searching.

DORME & LENOIR - 1916 Candy Wrapper
DORME & LENOIR – 1916 Candy Wrapper

Unfortunately, this is why aviation history forgot him for almost a century. One of the most brilliant pilots had disappeared from World War 1 history. He remained all the same in a few books in English, and Jacques Mortane, the French journalist left several publications highlighting the role of Maxime Lenoir in aviation and air combat. Then nothing, almost nothing written on this pilot who was awarded the Legion d’honneur, Médaille militaire, Croix de guerre with 8 palms, as well as the notorious Aeroclub of America, and Aeroclub of France gold medals!

Only two men kept his remembrance alive – first, Abel Anjorand who has always been a long-time friend of Lenoir’s family. He compiled a set of documents and pictures to leave a trace of the village’s ace to future generations. Didier Lecoq, a journalist and historian, has revealed Maxime Lenoir’s feats on his website aeroplanedetouraine.fr for a few years. The WW1 ace could have stayed hidden for possibly a couple more decades without Didier Lecoq’s outstanding work.

French ace Maxime Lenoir congratulated by British officers
Lenoir congratulated by British officers

Last not least, there is good news since the national and regional officials have officially recognized Maxime Lenoir as the WW1 hero for Tours and Indre-et-Loire in the remembrance operation called « 100 cities, 100 heroes, and 100 flags » since last summer. A ceremony to pay tribute to the local hero was held in the capital of Touraine, Place Anatole France on the left bank of the Loire river on Friday, September 19th, 2014. The Lenoir’s family, their friends and some veterans attended the ceremony which ended in the majestic festival hall at the city hall.

Though he did not know, Senior Master Sergeant (Adjudant – OR-8) Maxime Lenoir was to be promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1917. His disappearance in history handbooks for almost a century remains a mystery. Moreover, avgeeks, online gamers as well as modelists used Lenoir’s features « Trompe la mort III », « Max », and « Backjumper » tagged from markings just along with Guynemer’s « Vieux Charles ». No wonder if Maxime Lenoir recovered his position in aviation history for at least two books featuring the former ace are to be published between 2015 and 2016 – and quite rightly so. Among the 100 WW1 heroes, Lenoir turns out to be the 5th ace in victories out of 21 aces, and the second « Dead for France » ace after… Guynemer!

Summary:

ACE OF ACES – VERDUN 1916

Didier Lecoq (a historian and a journalist who is the co-author of L’Aviation militaire en Indre-et-Loire) was the first who had pointed out Maxime Lenoir, the forgotten ace, this ‘“Guynemer of the Loire Valley”’ since 2010. Without him, Lenoir would still be a forgotten ace. Only a few other people had remembered Maxime Lenoir’s feats before – his family, and two friends of theirs, Abel Anjorand and Philippe Girard.

Maxime Lenoir, who had trained in Buc, had been performing « Looping the loop » on his « Backjumper » Blériot XI throughout France in airshows since February 7, 1914.
Lenoir scored 11 victories and was reported missing in action on October 25, 1916. Didier Lecoq found out in September 2014 that Lenoir was shot down:

https://aeroplanedetouraine.fr/

Then in November 2015, he was reported from a historian in Berlin that the Germans erected a printed cross on Lenoir’s tomb in his honour.

https://aeroplanedetouraine.fr/

For the record, Maxime Lenoir was as of October 25, 1916 :

Verdun ace of aces for 3 months from June till October 1916
Ace of aces among the Allies killed in action; until RFC Cpt Albert Ball’s death on May 6, 1917
1st French double ace killed in action
2nd double ace among the Allies killed in action
3rd in victories among all the pilots killed in action
3rd French ace killed in action after Pégoud and de Rochefort
5th double ace in the world killed in action
7th French pilot killed in action
14th ace in the world killed in action

He may have been the first pilot in the world who shot down a Drachen-type balloon on June 15, 1915 – to be confirmed as we are still searching. That operation was highly risky since those sausage-balloons were fiercely defended by ground-based air defenses. Reginald Warneford, a brave British pilot had downed a Zeppelin 8 days before. Shooting down a Zeppelin was a different business – an altitude challenge to make it short. On the one hand, Warneford became famous for this feat. He was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross and the Légion d’Honneur. On the other hand, Lenoir’s Drachen victory was barely noticed. It was recognized several months later and few people figured out how fierce a battle it involved.

He would have been the first pilot in the world who shot down a heavy bomber Gotha on September 25, 1916. Only a handful of gallant pilots managed to shoot down such a flying fortress. Neither Fonck, nor the other allied aces downed a Gotha. Only Guynemer, helped by Chainat recorded a victory, a Gotha claimed on February 8, 1917. Nungesser, the redoubtable ace, shot down two Gothas. Maxime Lenoir suffered a lot from that air combat which left him a wound or a bruise to the edge of his left eye.

Among those killed in action, according to the number of victories, Lenoir was number 1 among the allied aces and the 3rd in the world. This is why his MIA spread around the world in the press.

The German ace Oswald Boelcke died three days later, on October 28, 1916 with 40 victories. The French recorded two major losses in 1917 :
René Dorme (23 victories) was KIA on May 25, 1917;
Georges Guynemer was KIA on September 11, 1917.

(as of January 31, 2016)

Step by step, as it is being confirmed, it turns out that Maxime Lenoir may have been the Ace of aces out of Verdun sky in 1916. At least between July and October 1916 while the French Poilus were through a glorious stage, regaining Fort Douaumont, then Fort Vaux. There is now a better understanding of that German prisoners claims about Lenoir’s attacks in interrogations. After checking, Lenoir was used to flying due north beyond Verdun, overhead Douaumont and beyond more often than Nungesser for instance. Perhaps it was why his SPAD VII was marked « TROMPE LA MORT III » – Death-dodger III – on his fuselage. This confirms Jacques Mortane’s articles which praised Lenoir as one of the best aces at that time.

Obviously, Maxime Lenoir also flew a Nieuport 17 in late 1916 equipped with an Éclair propeller from Marcel Dassault (Bloch at that time). The plane must have been very maneuverable at that time. It is the first tiMédaille d'or de l'Aéroclub de France 1917 - Gold Medalme we have seen an Éclair propeller mounted on this type of aeroplane. The picture cannot be published at this time.

Last but not least, Maxime Lenoir, the 11-victory ace, was awarded the Legion d’honneur, Médaille militaire, Croix de guerre with 8 palms, as well as the notorious Aeroclub of America, and Aeroclub of France gold medals! He was the first ace with Guynemer and a few others to be awarded these awards!

Postscript: it is the second article this blog has tagged « Maxime Lenoir » as another post featuring his name had been posted here: http://airforces/2009/11/11/all-the-ww1-aces-of-the-french-air-force-23/

———–

En français:

Maxime Lenoir & Nieuport - summer 1916
Maxime Lenoir & Nieuport – summer 1916

Maxime LENOIR aurait eu 126 ans aujourd’hui.

Il fut autrefois un des plus connus et talentueux pilotes de sa génération. Il avait été pionnier de l’aviation alors qu’il faisait partie de ces quelques pilotes capable d’accomplir des boucles en voltige à la suite d’Adolphe Pégoud entre 1913 et 1914. Il s’engagea dans quelques courses d’avions et de nombreux meetings aériens sur son Blériot XI surnommé  »Backjumper ». La presse locale, nationale et internationale commença à publier des articles sur son sens prodigue du pilotage dans les nombreux meetings aériens étant donné que les spectateurs l’acclamaient à chaque fois qu’il se produisait. Par exemple, il fut porté en triomphe après avoir avoir accompli des figures acrobatiques au-dessus du terrain d’aviation de la famille Girard, « La Girardière » à Chargé son village natal en Indre-et-Loire où jusqu’à 5000 personnes s’étaient rassemblées pour assister à son show aérien en mai 1914.

Alors que la notoriété de Lenoir était croissante, l’archiduc François-Ferdinand fut assassiné et la  »Guerre européenne » éclata. Il s’engagea dans l’armée peu de temps après. Malgré ses compétences exceptionnelles en tant que pilote, Maxime Lenoir fut malheureusement contraint de rejoindre la cavalerie française. Il continua ensuite à demander une mutation vers l’Aéronautique militaire récemment créée par le général Hirschauer et devint pilote de chasse. Toutefois il fut d’abord affecté au réglage du tir à l’escadrille C18, puis il fut affecté à l’escadrille N23 comme pilote de chasse. Il mena une guerre terrible au dessus des tranchées et engagea des combats aériens acharnés contre l’aviation prussienne au dessus de Verdun. Il devint un des premiers pilotes à abattre un ballon. Après quelques victoires en 1915, il devint le meilleur pilote de chasse de la N23 en 1916 avec 11 victoires, ainsi que le plus décoré parmi des noms prestigieux : Pinsard, Casale, Gilbert, de Beauchamp, Rochechouart de Mortemart, Brindejonc des Moulinais, Roland Garros, Pulpe (venant de Russie), Baumont, etc.

D’après des témoignages de soldats allemand, Lenoir était un as très adroit et redoutable. Ils le connaissaient comme ils connaissaient Navarre, Nungesser, Guynemer, Dorme et bien sûr Boelcke. Il est important de rappeler que Mannock, Rickenbacker, Collishaw, Bishop, Löwenhardt, Little, Udet, McCudden, Fonck, Von Richthofen, Beauchamp-Proctor, and McLaren n’étaient pas aussi célèbres à ce moment là car certains d’entre eux n’étaient pas des as ou ne comptaient pas autant de victoires. La guerre aérienne entre 1914 et 1916 était totalement différente de celle menée entre 1917 et 1918. Comme Lenoir avait été formé au terrain d’aviation de Buc chez Blériot, la meilleure école d’acrobatie aérienne, il parvenait à échapper au feu ennemi lorsque sa mitrailleuse s’enrayait. Comme un toréador et de façon très habile, il savait comment leurrer les aéroplanes ennemis lorsque ses camarades pilotes subissaient un feu nourri. C’était le roi de l’esquive mais il prenait beaucoup de risques, trop peut-être. Il revint plusieurs fois au terrain de Vadelaincourt son avion criblé de balles. Il n’hésitait jamais à voler au secours de ses camarades pilotes à chaque fois qu’il le pouvait puisqu’il osait faire face à plusieurs appareils allemands d’affilée. Il avait la réputation d’être un très bon ami ainsi qu’un véritable salut dans le ciel de Verdun. Par exemple, lorsqu’il apprit que son ami Navarre (surnommé  »la sentinelle de Verdun ») avait été abattu et grièvement blessé le 17 juin 1916, il décolla immédiatement. Seul, il se rendit sur les lieux où son ami avait été abattu et fonça sur un LVG C qu’il descendit sans tarder. Il devint si célèbre que son nom ou son portrait figurait sur des magazines, des emballages de bonbons et des vignettes parmi les plus grands as au temple de la renommée.

Maxime Lenoir totalisait plus d’une centaine de missions de guerre, ce qui était considérable à cette époque. Blessé à deux reprises en combat aérien, il continua à livrer des combats aériens. Il décolla le lendemain de la reprise du fort de Douaumont ravagé par la bataille. Alors qu’il était en mission de guerre le 25 octobre 1916 lors de la reprise de Fort Douaumont sur son légendaire SPAD VII marqué du surnom  »Trompe la mort III » il fut porté absent ce soir là puis disparu et ce n’est que bien plus tard qu’il fut déclaré  »Mort pour la France ». On ne l’a cependant jamais retrouvé malgré de multiples recherches.

Malheureusement, voilà pourquoi l’histoire de l’aviation l’a oublié pendant presque un siècle. L’un des plus brillants pilotes avait disparu de l’histoire de la première guerre mondiale. Son souvenir subsistait tout de même dans quelques livres en anglais et Jacques Mortane, le journaliste français laissa plusieurs publications soulignant le rôle de Maxime Lenoir dans l’aviation et le combat aérien. Puis plus rien, on n’écrivit presque rien sur ce pilote qui fut décoré de la Légion d’honneur, de la Médaille militaire, la Croix de guerre, ainsi que lui furent attribué les prestigieuses médailles d’or de l’Aéroclub d’Amérique et de l’Aéroclub de France!

Trois hommes seulement, ont su conserver son souvenir intact. Abel Anjorand qui a toujours été un ami de longue date de la famille Lenoir. Il a compilé toute une série de documents et d’images pour laisser une trace de l’as du village à de futures générations. Philippe Girard se souvient des histoires de sa famille qui a reçu Maxime Lenoir et son Blériot XI dans leur ferme de la Girardière en mai 1914. Didier Lecoq, journaliste et historien révèle depuis quelques années les exploits de Maxime Lenoir sur son site aeroplanedetouraine.fr . L’as de la première guerre mondiale aurait pu rester caché pendant peut-être encore quelques décennies sans le magnifique travail de Didier Lecoq.

Il y a enfin une bonne nouvelle puisque depuis l’été dernier, les responsables nationaux et régionaux reconnaissent officiellement Maxime Lenoir comme le héros de la Grande guerre pour la ville de Tours et l’Indre-et-Loire dans l’opération de commémoration  »100 villes, 100 héros, 100 drapeaux ». Une cérémonie pour rendre hommage au héros local s’est déroulée dans la capitale de Touraine, place Anatole France sur la rive gauche de la Loire le vendredi 19 septembre 2014. La famille Lenoir, leurs amis et des anciens combattants ont assisté à la cérémonie qui s’acheva dans la majestueuse salle des fêtes de l’hôtel de ville.

Bien qu’il ne le sut pas, l’adjudant Maxime Lenoir devait être promu sous-lieutenant en 1917. Sa disparition des manuels d’histoire pendant presque un siècle demeure un mystère. Ce qui est encore plus étrange, c’est que des fans d’aviation, des joueurs en ligne ainsi que des modélistes ont utilisé des symboles de Lenoir comme  »Trompe la mort III »,  »Max » et  »Backjumper » tirés pour certains de décalcomanies accompagnant le  »Vieux Charles » de Guynemer. Ce n’est pas étonnant que Lenoir retrouve sa place dans l’histoire de l’aviation car au moins deux livres évoquant l’ancien as doivent paraître entre 2015 et 2016 et fort justement. Parmi les 100 héros de la Grande guerre, il s’avère que Lenoir est le 5ème as par le nombre de victoires sur un total de 21 aviateurs et il est dans cette liste le second as  »Mort pour la France » juste après… Guynemer !

En résumé:

L’AS DES AS DE VERDUN 1916

Didier Lecoq (historien et journaliste à La Nouvelle République, co-auteur de L’Aviation militaire en Indre-et-Loire) a le premier fait resurgir Maxime Lenoir, l’as oublié, ce ‘“Guynemer de Touraine”’ depuis au moins 2010. Sans lui, Lenoir serait toujours un as oublié. Avant lui, peu de gens se souvenaient des exploits de Maxime Lenoir: sa famille et deux de leurs amis: Abel Anjorand et Philippe Girard.

Maxime Lenoir, formé à Buc, exécutait à travers la France des représentations ‘“Looping the loop”’ sur Blériot XI depuis au moins le 7 février 1914.
Lenoir avait 11 victoires et fût porté disparu le 25/10/1916. En septembre 2014, Didier Lecoq découvre que Lenoir a été abattu :

https://aeroplanedetouraine.fr/

Puis en novembre 2015 il reçoit l’information d’un historien collectionneur berlinois selon laquelle Lenoir aurait aussi reçu l’honneur d’une croix gravée par les allemands :

https://aeroplanedetouraine.fr/

Pour mémoire, Maxime Lenoir était au 25 octobre 1916:

L’as des as de Verdun depuis 3 mois
As des as parmi les Alliés morts au combat, jusqu’au 6 mai 1917 (Albert Ball)
1er double as français mort au combat
2e double as parmi les Alliés morts au combat
3e as au monde en nombre de victoires parmi les pilotes morts au combat
3e as français mort au combat après Pégoud et de Rochefort
5e double-as au monde mort au combat
7e pilote français mort au combat
14e as au monde mort au combat

Il a peut-être été le premier pilote au monde à abattre un ballon de type Drachen en juin 1915. (à confirmer, cherchons toujours) Cette opération était hautement périlleuse tant ces ballons étaient bien défendus par des batteries sol-air. Reginald Warneford, un vaillant pilote britannique avait abattu un Zeppelin 8 jours plus tôt. Descendre un Zeppelin était une toute autre affaire – en très bref, il s’agissait de prendre l’ascendant en termes d’altitude. D’un côté de la Manche, Warneford devint célèbre pour cet exploit. Il a été décoré de la Victoria Cross et de la Légion d’Honneur pour cette première. De l’autre côté de la Manche, le Drachen abattu par Lenoir fût à peine mentionné. Il ne fut reconnu que bien plus tard (plusieurs mois) car peu de gens pouvaient s’imaginer quel âpre combat aérien cela impliquait.

Il aurait accompli l’exploit d’être le premier au monde à abattre un Gotha le 25 septembre 1916. A l’exception d’une poignée de pilotes valeureux, ni René Fonck, ni les autres as alliés ne seraient parvenus à abattre une telle forteresse volante. Seuls Guynemer, avec l’aide de Chainat aurait enregistré une victoire sur Gotha le 8 février 1917. Quant à Nungesser, le redoutable, il en aurait descendu deux. Maxime Lenoir a beaucoup souffert de ce combat qui lui a laissé une blessure sur le coin de l’oeil gauche.

Parmi les morts au combat, au nombre de victoires, il était n°1 du côté des alliés et le 3e as au monde, ce qui explique l’écho de sa disparition dans la presse internationale.

L’allemand Oswald Boelcke est mort au combat 3 jours plus tard, le 28 octobre 1916 avec tout de même 40 victoires. Côté français, deux pertes au moins aussi importantes en 1917 :
– Le français René Dorme (23 victoires) est mort au combat le 25 mai 1917
– Georges Guynemer est mort au combat le 11 septembre 1917.

Cela se confirme peu à peu, il apparaît que Maxime Lenoir était probablement l’As des as du ciel de Verdun en 1916. Du moins entre juillet et octobre 1916 dans une période victorieuse française (reconquête de Douaumont puis Vaux) On comprend mieux les témoignages des prisonniers allemands lors d’interrogatoires. Après vérifications, Lenoir allait toujours plus au nord de Verdun, au-dessus de Douaumont et au-delà, bien plus souvent que Nungesser par exemple. D’où peut-être une part de son surnom sur son fuselage « TROMPE LA MORT III ». Ceci confirme les articles de Jacques Mortane qui considérait Lenoir comme un des meilleurs as de l’époque.

Visiblement Maxime Lenoir volait aussi fin 1916 sur un Nieuport 17 modifié avec hélice Éclair de chez Marcel Dassault (Bloch à l’époque). L’appareil devait être extrêmement maniable pour l’époque. C’est la première fois que nous voyons une hélice Éclair sur ce type d’appareil. On ne peut pas publier la photo pour le moment.

Enfin et surtout, Maxime Lenoir, l’as aux 11 victoires, a été un des premiers à être décoré de la Legion d’honneur, la Médaille militaire, la Croix de guerre avec 8 palmes. Chose tout à fait exceptionnelle, on lui a aussi décerné les médailles d’or de l’ Aeroclub d’Amérique et de l’Aeroclub de France. Il a été le premier as avec entre autre Guynemer à recevoir de telles distinctions.

Post-scriptum: c’est la seconde fois que Maxime Lenoir figure dans un article de ce blog: https://airforces.fr/2009/11/11/all-the-ww1-aces-of-the-french-air-force-23/

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ER 2/33 SAVOIE – AMONG OLDEST SQUADRONS

December 1, 2012

 

Mirage F1CR Upside down - ER 02/033 "Savoy", SAL 6 "Rhine Gull" - Recce from 1912 till 2012
Mirage F1CR Upside down         –         ER 02/033 « Savoy », SAL 6 « Rhine Gull »       –       Recce from 1912 till 2012

 

The French Air Force 2/33 « Savoie » Reconnaissance Squadron celebrated its centenary on June 22, 2012.

The centennial was presided over by General de Rousiers, a former 2/33 pilot in the 1980s, who is now the permanent Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC).

This ceremony was held at BA 118 FAF Station in Mont de Marsan, in the southwest of France. It was more particularly dedicated to its oldest flight (escadrille in French) – SAL 6, which means Salmson aircraft, and 6 as the sixth flight created in the French Army Aviation.

This creation occurred in December 1912, but traces of its previous existence might be found as early as September 1912, and maybe earlier. I will keep you posted if necessary.

The centennial had begun earlier on Friday 22nd of June in the morning with the presentation of the Rhine Gull insignia to the new SAL 6 Flight members.

Some of the senior members invited – all veterans – could see that their traditions were kept up at a high level as the candidates had to go through various « ordeals » to deserve their brand new badges.

The SAL 6 flight’s emblem consists of a white bird, a Rhine gull clad with a blue circle as shown hereafter:

 

ER 2/33 Savoie reconnaissance squadron, SAL 6 "Rhine Gull" Flight Emblem
ER 2/33 Savoie Recce Squadron, SAL 6 « Rhine Gull » Emblem

 

ER 2/33 Savoie recce squadron, SAL 6 "Rhine Gull" Flight Emblem
ER 2/33 Savoie, SAL 6 « Rhine Gull » Emblem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is assumed that the origins of the SAL 6 flight emblem date back to 1920.

 

Mirage F1CR and previous ER 2/33 SAL 6 aircraft
Mirage F1CR and previous ER 2/33 SAL 6 aircraft

 

 

Mirage F1CR starboard and previous ER 2/33 SAL 6 aircraft
Mirage F1CR starboard and previous ER 2/33 SAL 6 aircraft

SAL 6 was disbanded for almost a year in Germany from April 10, 1919.

The flight was created anew in Germany into the 16th flight of the 33rd Aerial Observation Regiment (33eme RAO). That new flight would have kept the SAL 6, C 6, and D6 traditions since the calling SAL 6 remained along with 16th flight (16ème escadrille) for that decade. However, it would have had a new batch of pilots, mechanics, and aircraft.

Mirage F1CR - ER 02/033 Savoie, Escadrille SAL 6 "Mouette du Rhin" en extrados de dessus - 100eme anniversaire
Mirage F1CR – Recce Squadron ER 02/033 « Savoy », Flight SAL 6 « Rhine gull » – 100th anniversary

Among those aircraft, there would have been a SAL 70 flight aircraft – a Salmson 2A2 – on which the SAL 70 emblem was painted. It was a white gull with a blue disk on its background.

There were many Rhine gulls flying around where SAL 6 stationed from 1920 until 1930 (Gossenheim; Krefeld; and Bochum), and blue was the color of reconnaissance.

As SAL 6 had to remain in the Rhineland area, and its main mission consisted in performing reconnaissance missions, that SAL 70 Salmson aircraft turned out to be a timely addition.

It was therefore decided to take the SAL 70 symbol to be slightly changed into a Rhine gull surrounded by a blue circle.

In the early years, the first SAL6 Flight marking would have looked like this one below, and it may have featured an Egyptian Eagle:

 

Original ER 2/33 Savoie D6, C6, and SAL6 Aircraft Marking
Original D6, C6, and SAL6 Aircraft Marking

 

Mirage F1CR above clouds - ER 02/033 "Savoie", SAL 6 "Mouette du Rhin" - "100 ans de Reco" !
Mirage F1CR above clouds – ER 02/033 « Savoie », SAL 6 « Mouette du Rhin » – « 100 ans de Reco » !

 

Mirage F1CR fin - 02033 SAVOIE Recce Sqn
Mirage F1CR fin – 02033 SAVOIE Recce Sqn

General Charles de Gaule, who was in exile in the United Kingdom, named Colonel Valin as Commander-in-Chief of the Free French Air Force (FAFL – Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres) during the Second World War.

The aviator made a decision of giving its squadrons a French region name for each of them in order to address a strong message to the Vichy regime which collaborated with Hitler, and the Axis powers.

As a consequence, the Reconnaissance Group GR 2/33 was named Savoie on the 3rd of November 1943, and it has kept this name so far.

This is why you can see the Savoy’s flag on various SAL 6 aircraft. ER 2/33 was stationed near Strasbourg between 1960 and 1994. This is why the Savoy’s red flag covered with the white Saint John’s Cross (Croix de St Jean) was painted on a huge concrete slab, on a patch of lawn, in the middle of the squadron area, close to the 2/33 photo hangar at Strasbourg-Entzheim FAF Station. This is why this flag has been billowing above the new squadron facilities since early 2012. This is also why an official twinning was organized between this squadron, and the General Council of Savoie.
As I started to look up through various sources on squadrons & flights history, it turned out that SAL 6 Rhine Gull Flight is a very old unit. Probably one of the oldest  in the world.

According to the chart here below, ER 02033 Savoie, and more particularly SAL 6 Rhine Gull would be the third oldest reconnaissance squadron or flight in the world as of late 2012:

 

Rank.

NAME

From

ROLE

SQUADRON
(December 2012)

COUNTRY
Current station

1 ?

SAL 1

Mar 29

1912

Electronic Warfare
Flight

EEA 54 Dunkerque

FRANCE,
Evreux

2 ?

No 1

?

1878

Balloon Company

No 1 RAF

UK, Cottesmore
(N°1 RAF
should reform
in late 2012)

May 13

1912

Royal Flying Corps

Aug ?

1914

Heavier than air
Reconnaissance &
Fighter Squadron

3 ?

No 2

May 13

1912

Reconnaissance Sqn

No 2 RAF

UK, Marham

3 ?

No 3

May 13

Fighter Squadron

No 3 RAF

UK, Coningsby

5

SPA 3

Jun ?

Fighter Flight
(Guynemer’s flight)

EC 1/2 Cigognes

FRANCE, Dijon

6

BR 104

Jul ?

Transport Flight

ET 2/61
Franche Comte

FRANCE,
Orleans

7 ?

No 4

Aug ?

1912

Fighter Training Sqn

No 4 RAF

UK, Wittering

7 ?

SPA 15

Aug 22

Fighter Flight

EC 1/7 Provence

FRANCE,
Saint Dizier

9 ?

SAL 6

Dec ?

1912

Reconnaissance Flight

ER 2/33 Savoie

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

9 ?

SAL 8

Dec 10

Transport Flight

ETL 1/62 Vercors

FRANCE, Creil

11 ?

BR 11

Feb ?

1913

Reconnaissance Flight

ER 2/33 Savoie

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

11?

SAL 14

?

1913

Transport Flight

ET 1/64 Bearn

FRANCE,
Evreux

13 ?

SPA 103

Feb 16

Fighter Flight

EC 1/2 Cigognes

FRANCE, Dijon

13 ?

SAL 17

Feb 16

Helicopter Flight

EH 1/67 Pyrenees

FRANCE,
Cazaux

15 ?

1 RS

Mar 5

Reconnaissance Sqn

1 RS

USA, Beale,
California

16 ?

CFS

Mar ?

Training Unit

CFS

AUSTRALIA,
East Sale

17 ?

1 Sqn

Apr 16

1913

Fighter Flight

2 Wing Tactique

BELGIUM,
Florennes

18 ?

SAL 18

?

Transport Flight

ET 1/64 Bearn

FRANCE,
Evreux

18 ?

SAL 19

May ?

Transport Flight

ET 2/61
Franche Comte

FRANCE,
Orleans

18 ?

VB 101

?

Transport Flight

ET 1/61 Touraine

FRANCE,
Orleans

21 ?

No 5

Jul 26

Reconnaissance Sqn

No 5 RAF

UK, Waddington

22 ?

SPA BI 20
or MF 20

Dec ?

1913

Electronic Warfare
Flight

EEA 54 Dunkerque

FRANCE,
Evreux

23

No 6

Jan 31

1914

Fighter Squadron

No 6 RAF

UK, Leuchars

24

No 7

May 1

1914

Fighter Squadron

No 7 RAF

UK, Odiham

25 ?

SAL 22

Jun 6

Air Refuelling Flight

GRV 93 Bretagne

FRANCE, Istres

26 ?

SPA 69

Jun ?

Fighter Flight

EC 3/11 Corse

FRANCE,
Republic of
Djibouti

27

SPA 26

Aug 26

Fighter Flight

EC 1/2 Cigognes

FRANCE, Dijon

28

SAL 28

Sep 1

Fighter Flight

EC 1/91 Gascogne

FRANCE,
Saint Dizier

28

No 203

Sep 1

1914

Helicopter OCU

No 203 RAF

UK, Valley

30

SPA 31

Sep 24

Fighter Training Flight

ETD 2/7 Argonne

FRANCE,
Nancy

31

SAL 33

Oct 2

Reconnaissance Flight

ED 1/33 Belfort
Drone Squadron

FRANCE,
Cognac

32

No 202

Oct 17

SAR Squadron

No 202 RAF

UK, Valley

33

SPA 102

Nov 16

Fighter Flight

EC 2/3 Champagne

FRANCE,
Nancy

34

No 9

Dec 8

1914

Fighter Squadron

No 9 RAF

UK, Marham

35

No 8

Jan 1

1915

AEW Squadron

No 8 RAF

UK, Waddington

36

SPA 38

Jan 8

1915

Fighter Flight

EC 3/30 Lorraine

FRANCE,
Al Dhafra, UAE

37

No 13

Jan 10

Fighter Squadron

No 13 RAF

UK, Marham

38 ?

No 17

Feb 1

Fighter Squadron

No 17 RAF

UK, Coningsby

39 ?

No 14

Feb 3

ISTAR Squadron

No 14 RAF

UK, Waddington

40 ?

No 11

Feb 14

1915

Fighter Squadron

No 11 RAF

UK, Coningsby

40 ?

No 12

Feb 14

Fighter Squadron

No 12 RAF

UK, Lossiemouth

42 ?

SPA 99

Feb ?

Helicopter Flight

EH 3/67 Parisis

FRANCE,
Villacoublay

43 ?

No 15

Mar 1

Fighter Squadron

No 15 RAF

UK, Lossiemouth

44 ?

SPA BI 55

Mar 3

Transport Flight

ETL 1/62 Vercors

FRANCE, Creil

45 ?

SPA 88

Mar ?

1915

Fighter Flight

EC 3/11 Corse

FRANCE,
Republic of
Djibouti

45 ?

SPA 97

Mar ?

Fighter Flight

EC 2/30
Normandie-Niemen

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

47 ?

No 30

Mar 24

Transport Squadron

No 30 RAF

UK, Brize Norton

48 ?

SPA 48

Mar 29

Fighter Training Flight

ETD 2/7 Argonne

FRANCE,
Nancy

49 ?

BR 44

Apr 4

Fighter Flight

EC 3/3 Ardennes

FRANCE,
Nancy

50 ?

BR 113

Apr ?

1915

Transport Flight

ET 1/61 Touraine

FRANCE,
Orleans

51 ?

102 RQS

?

1908

Balloon Company

1st Aero Company

USA,
Westhampton
Beach, New York

May ?

1915

Heavier than air
Rescue Sqn

102nd Rescue Sqn

51 ?

SPA 95

May 1

1915

Fighter Flight

EC 1/3 Navarre

FRANCE,
Nancy

53 ?

C 53 or
SPA BI 53

May 2

1915

Reconnaissance Flight

ER 2/33 Savoie

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

53 ?

SAL 56

May 2

Fighter Flight

EC 3/30 Lorraine

FRANCE,
Al Dhafra, UAE

55 ?

SPA BI 54

May 7

Air Refuelling Flight

GRV 93 Bretagne

FRANCE, Istres

56 ?

SPA 57

May 11

Fighter Training Flight

EE 5/2 Cote d’or

FRANCE, Dijon

56 ?

No 18

May 11

SAR Squadron

No 18 RAF

UK, Odiham

58 ?

2 ARS

May 12

Air Refuelling Sqn

2 ARS

USA, McGuire
-Dix-Lakehurst,
New Jersey

59 ?

SAL 58

May 20

1915

AEW Flight

36th EDCA

FRANCE,
Avord

60

SPA 96

Jun 1

Fighter Flight

EC 2/4 La Fayette

FRANCE, Istres

61

SPA 93

Jul/Sep?

Fighter Flight

EC 2/30
Normandie-Niemen

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

62

SPA 65

Aug 2

Fighter Training Flight

EE 5/2 Cote d’or

FRANCE, Dijon

63

SPA 62

Aug 11
Apr 25?

Fighter Flight

EC 1/3 Navarre

FRANCE,
Nancy

64 ?

No 22

Sep 1

1915

SAR Squadron

No 22 RAF

UK, Valley

65 ?

SPA 67

Sep 17

Fighter Flight

EC 2/3 Champagne

FRANCE,
Nancy

66 ?

F 118

Sep ?

Transport Flight

ET 3/61 Poitou

FRANCE,
Orleans

66 ?

F 119

Sep ?

Transport Flight

ET 3/61 Poitou

FRANCE,
Orleans

68

No 24

Sep 21

Transport Squadron

No 24 RAF

UK, Brize Norton

69

No 31

Oct 11

1915

Fighter Squadron

No 31 RAF

UK, Marham

70

SPA 91

Oct 13

Fighter Flight

EC 2/30
Normandie-Niemen

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

71

BR 66

Oct 24

Fighter Flight

EC 1/91 Gascogne

FRANCE,
Saint Dizier

72

No 27

Sep 21

Helicopter Squadron

No 27 RAF

UK, Odiham

73

No 28

Nov 7

Helicopter Squadron

No 28 RAF

UK, Benson

73

No 29

Nov 7

1915

OCU

No 29 RAF

UK, Coningsby

75

No 1 (AFC)

Jan 1

1916

Fighter Squadron

No 1 RAAF

AUSTRALIA,
Amberley

76

No 32

Jan 12

VIP Transport Sqn
« The Royal Squadron »

No 32 RAF

UK, Northolt

76

No 33

Jan 12

Helicopter Squadron

No 33 RAF

UK, Benson

78

BR 228

Feb 1

Electronic Warfare
Flight

EEA 54 Dunkerque

FRANCE,
Evreux

79

BR 216

Feb 16

1916

Transport Flight

ETOM 82 Maine

France, Tahiti

80

No 45

Mar 1

Training Squadron

No 45 RAF

UK, Cranwell

80

No 47

Mar 1

Transport Flight

No 47 RAF

UK, Brize Norton

82

N 124

Apr 9

Fighter Flight

EC 2/4
La Fayette Escadrille
U.S. 103rd Aero Sqn

FRANCE, Istres

83

No 39

Apr 15

1916

Drone Squadron

No 39 RAF

UK,
Creech, USA

84

SPA 73

Apr 19

Fighter Training Flight

ETO 2 Nice

FRANCE,
Cazaux

85

No 55

Apr 27

Training Squadron

No 55 RAF

UK, Cranwell

86

No 60

Apr 30

Helicopter Training Sqn

No 60 RAF

UK, Shawbury

87

No 54

May 5

1916

ISR Sqn & OCU

No 54 RAF

UK, Waddington

88

No 51

May 15

SIGINT Squadron

No 51 RAF

UK, Waddington

89

No 56

Jun 8

OEU

No 56 RAF

UK, Waddington

90

SPA 75

Jul 13

Fighter Flight

EC 2/3 Champagne

FRANCE,
Nancy

91

No 41

Jul 14

1916

Test & Evaluation Sqn

No 41 RAF

UK, Coningsby

92

Jasta 2

Aug 10

Fighter Squadron

Jagdstaffel 2
(Red Baron Sqn)

GERMAN Empire
Bertincourt, France

93

Jasta 4

Aug 25

Fighter Squadron

Jagdstaffel 4
(Ernst Udet Sqn)

GERMAN Empire
Vaux, France

94 ?

No 2 (AFC)

Sep ?

AEW Squadron

No 2 RAAF

AUSTRALIA,
Williamtown

95 ?

SPA 77

Sep 19

1916

Fighter Flight

EC 1/7 Provence

FRANCE,
Saint Dizier

95 ?

No 3 (AFC)

Sep 19

Fighter Squadron

No 3 RAAF

AUSTRALIA,
Williamtown

97 ?

Jasta 11

Sep 28

Fighter Squadron

Jagdstaffel 11
« Flying Circus »
(Red Baron Sqn)

GERMAN Empire
Douai, France

98

No 4 (AFC)

Oct 16

FACDU Squadron

No 4 RAAF

AUSTRALIA,
Williamtown

99

No 208

Oct 26

1916

Fighter Training Sqn

No 208 RAF

UK, Valley

100

3 FTS

Nov 1

Fighter Training Sqn

3 FTS

USA, Vance

100

No 78

Nov 1

Helicopter Squadron

No 78 RAF

UK, Benson

102

SPA 79

Nov 21

Fighter Flight

EC 1/91 Gascogne

FRANCE,
Saint Dizier

103

SPA 78

Dec 12

Fighter Training Flight

ETO 2 Nice

FRANCE,
Cazaux

104

SPA 81

Dec 26

1916

Fighter Flight

EC 2/4 La Fayette

FRANCE, Istres

105

No 84

Jan 7

1917

SAR Squadron

No 84 RAF

UK,
Akrotiri, Cyprus

106

No 100

Feb 23

1917

Fighter Training Sqn

No 100 RAF

UK, Leeming

107

BR 131

Jun 2

Transport Flight

ET 2/64 Anjou

FRANCE,
Evreux

107

12 RS

Jun 2

Reconnaissance Sqn

12th Recce Sqn

USA, Beale,
California

109

119 FS

Jun 5

Fighter Squadron

119th Fighter Sqn

USA,
Atlantic City,
New Jersey

110

34 BS

Jun 11

Bomb Squadron

34th Bomb Squadron

USA, Ellsworth

111

35 FS

Jun 12

1917

Fighter Squadron

35th Fighter Squadron

USA,
Kunsan, S. Korea

111

36 FS

Jun 12

Fighter Squadron

36th Fighter Squadron

USA,
Osan, S. Korea

113

9 BS

Jun 14

Bomb Squadron

9th Bomb Squadron

USA, Dyess

114

No 6 (AFC)

Jun 15

Fighter Training Sqn

No 6 RAAF

AUSTRALIA,
Amberley

114

27 FS

Jun 15

Fighter Squadron

27th Fighter Squadron
« Fighting Eagles »

USA, Langley,
Virginia

116 ?

BR 132

Jun ?

1917

Transport Flight

ET 2/64 Anjou

FRANCE,
Evreux

117

23 BS

Jun 16

Bomb Squadron

23rd Bomb Sqn

USA, Minot,
North Dakota

118

JG 1

Jun 24

Fighter Sqn/Group

Jagdgeschwader 1
(Red Baron Sqn)

GERMAN Empire
Douai (France)

119

11 BS

Jun 26

Bomb Squadron

11th Bomb Sqn

USA, Barksdale,
Louisiana

119

20 BS

Jun 26

Bomb Squadron

20th Bomb Sqn

USA, Barksdale,
Louisiana

121

No 72

Jun 28

1917

Training Squadron

No 72 RAF

UK,
Linton-on-Ouse

122

No 101

Jul 12

Air Refuelling Sqn

No 101 RAF

UK, Brize Norton

123

SPA 153

Jul 1

Fighter Flight

EC 1/3 Navarre

FRANCE,
Nancy

124

SPA 152

Jul 9

Helicopter Flight

EHOM 68 Guyane

FRANCE,
French Guyana,
Rochambeau

124

SPA 162

Jul 9

1917

Fighter Flight

EC 1/7 Provence

FRANCE,
Saint Dizier

Jan 28

1918

126

55 FS

Aug 9

1917

Fighter Squadron

55th Fighter Squadron

USA, Shaw,
South Carolina

127

77 AS

Aug 13

1917

77 Aero Service Sqn,
predecessor to the current 77 FS
+ 2 Other Squadrons

Now 489th RS
Reconnaissance Sqn
& 77th Fighter Sqn
(Former Squadron A)

USA, Beale,
California
& USA, Shaw,
South Carolina

Feb 20

1918

128

110 BS

Aug 14

1917

Bomb Squadron

110th Bomb Squadron

USA, Whiteman,
Missouri

129

No 99

Aug 15

1917

Transport Squadron

No 99 RAF

UK, Brize Norton

130

112 FS

Aug 18

Fighter Squadron

112th Fighter Sqn

USA,
Toledo, Ohio

131

94 FS

Aug 20

Fighter Squadron

94th Fighter Squadron
« Hat in the Ring »

USA, Langley,
Virginia

132

96 BS

Bomb Squadron

96th Bomb Squadron

USA, Barksdale,
Louisiana

133

93 BS

Aug 21

1917

Bomb Squadron

93rd Bomb Squadron

USA, Barksdale,
Louisiana

134

99 RS

Reconnaissance Sqn

99th Recce Squadron

USA, Beale,
California

135

120 FS

Aug 28

Fighter Squadron

120th Fighter Sqn
« Colorado Cougars »

USA,
Buckley AFB,
Aurora, Colorado

136

No 216

Oct 5

Air Refuelling Sqn

No 216 RAF

UK, Brize Norton

137

SAL 253

Nov 18?

1917

AEW Flight

36th EDCA

FRANCE,
Avord

138

BR 257

Jan 1

1918

AEW Flight

36th EDCA

FRANCE,
Avord

Apr 8

1915?

139

79 FS

Feb 22

1918

Fighter Squadron

79th Fighter Squadron
« Tigers »

USA, Shaw,
South Carolina

140

BR 237

Mar 16

1918

Transport Flight

ETOM 82 Maine

FRANCE, Tahiti

Feb 17

1916?

141

SPA 163

Apr 4

1918

Fighter &
Experimentation Flight

EC 5/330
Cote d’argent

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

May 6

142

No 230

Aug 20

1918

Helicopter Squadron

No 230 RAF

UK, Benson

143

SPA 167

Aug 22

1918

Fighter Flight

EC 2/4 La Fayette

FRANCE, Istres

Jan 1 ?

144

SPA 164

Sep 18

1918

Fighter &
Experimentation Flight

EC 5/330
Cote d’argent

FRANCE,
Mont de Marsan

145

VR 291

Nov 5

1918

Reconnaissance Flight

ED 1/33 Belfort
Drone Squadron

FRANCE,
Cognac

Inact.

7. EL

Nov 7

1918

Fighter Flight

7. Eskadra Lotnicza
Kościuszko Sqn

POLAND, Lviv

146

VFA-14

Sep ?

1919

Fighter Squadron

Strike Fighter Sqn 14
« Tophatters »

USA, Lemoore,
California

Inact.

1st KD

May ?

1920

Air Battalion

1st Koku Daitai

JAPANESE
Empire

147

VMFA-232

Sep 1

1925

Marine Fighter Sqn

The « Red Devils »

USA, Miramar,
California

148 ?

No 3

?

1930

Helicopter Squadron

No 3 RNZAF

NEW ZEALAND,
Ohakea

149 ?

VP-46

Jul 1

1931

Patrol Squadron

Patrol Squadron 46

USA,
Whidbey Island

150 ?

CFS

?

1932

Transport Squadron

Central Flying School
SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Langebaanweg

151 ?

No 400

Oct 5

1932

Helicopter Squadron

No 400 RCAF

CANADA,
Borden

No 402

Transport/Training Sqn

No 402 RCAF

CANADA,
Winnipeg

153 ?

No 1 Sqn

Apr 1

1933

Fighter Squadron

No. 1 Squadron
(The Tigers)

INDIA, Gwalior

154 ?

121 FS

?

1930s

Fighter Squadron

121st Fighter Sqn
« Guardians »

USA, Andrews,
Maryland

155 ?

68 AS

?

1936

Air School

68 Air School SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Pretoria

156 ?

2 Sqn

Jan ?

1939

Fighter Squadron

2 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Makhado

157 ?

No 10

Jul 1

1939

Maritime Patrol Sqn

No 10 RAAF

AUSTRALIA,
Point Cook

158 ?

15 Sqn

Sep 1

1939

Helicopter Squadron

15 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Port Elizabeth

17 Sqn

VIP Transport Sqn

17 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Waterkloof

19 Sqn

Helicopter Squadron

19 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Hoedspruit

161 ?

16 Sqn

Sep 14

1939

Helicopter Squadron

16 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Bloemspruit

162 ?

No 11

Sep 25

Maritime Patrol Sqn

No 11 RAAF

AUSTRALIA,
Edinburgh

163

18 AS

Dec 22

1939

Aggressor Squadron

18th AGRS

USA, Eielson,
Alaska

164

123 FS

Jul 30

1940

Fighter Squadron

123rd Fighter Sqn
« Redhawks »

USA, Portland,
Oregon

165

41 Sqn

Oct 16

1940

Transport Squadron

41 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Waterkloof

166

64 AS

Nov 20

1940

Aggressor Squadron

64th AGRS

USA, Nellis,
Nevada

65 AS

Aggressor Squadron

65th AGRS

USA, Nellis,
Nevada

69 BS

Bomb Squadron

69th Bomb Squadron

USA, Minot,
North Dakota

169

60 Sqn

Dec ?

1940

Transport Squadron

60 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Waterkloof

125 FS

Fighter Squadron

125th Fighter Sqn
« Tulsa Vipers »

USA, Tulsa,
Oklahoma

171

44 FS

Jan 1

1941

Fighter Squadron

44th Fighter Squadron
« Vampires »

USA, Kadena,
Japan

172 ?

960 AACS

Jan 15

1941

AC&C Squradron

960th Airborne Air
Control Squadron

USA, Tinker,
Oklahoma

4 FS

Fighter Squadron

4th Fighter Squadron
« Fightin’ Fuujins »

USA, Hill, Utah

7 FS

Fighter Squadron

7th Fighter Squadron
« Bunyips »

USA, Holloman,
New Mexico

61 FS

Jan 15

1941

Fighter Squadron

61st Fighter Squadron
« Top Dogs »

USA, Luke,
Arizona

62 FS

Fighter Squadron

62nd Fighter Sqn

USA, Luke,
Arizona

63 FS

Fighter Squadron

63rd Fighter Squadron

USA, Luke,
Arizona

64 FS

Fighter Squadron

64th Fighter Squadron
« Fighting Cocks »

USA, Kadena,
Japan

179 ?

No 403

Mar 1

1941

Helicopter OTS

No 403 RCAF

CANADA,
Gagetown

180 ?

No 404

Apr 15

1941

LRP&T Sqn

No 404 RCAF

CANADA,
Greenwood

181 ?

No 405

Apr 23

1941

LRP Sqn

No 405 RCAF

CANADA,
Greenwood

182 ?

No 406

May 5

1941

Maritime OTS

No 406 RCAF

CANADA,
Shearwater

183 ?

21 Sqn

May 8

1941

VIP Transport Sqn

21 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Waterkloof

No 407

LRP Sqn

No 407 RCAF

CANADA,
Comox

185 ?

No 408

Jun 24

1941

Helicopter Squadron

No 408 RCAF

CANADA,
Edmonton

186 ?

No 409

Jun ?

1941

Fighter Squadron

No 409 RCAF

CANADA,
Cold Lake

No 410

Fighter Training Sqn

No 410 RCAF
(« Jetstream » series)

CANADA,
Cold Lake

188 ?

No 412

Jun 30

1941

VIP Transport Sqn

No 412 RCAF

CANADA,
Trenton

189 ?

No 413

Jul ?

1941

Transport/Rescue Sqn

No 413 RCAF

CANADA,
Greenwood

190 ?

No 5

Nov ?

Maritime Patrol Sqn

No 5 RNZAF

NEW ZEALAND,
Republic of Fiji

191 ?

No 417

Nov 27

Helicopter Squadron

No 417 RCAF

CANADA,
Cold Lake

192 ?

No 419

?

1941

Fighter Training Sqn

No 419 RCAF

CANADA,
Cold Lake

193

80 FS

Jan 6

1942

Fighter Squadron

80th Fighter Squadron
« Headhunters / Juvats »

USA,
Misawa, Japan

194

13 FS

Jan 13

1942

Fighter Squadron

13th Fighter Squadron
« The Panther Pack »

USA,
Kunsan, S. Korea

195

81 FS

Jan 15

Fighter Squadron

81st Fighter Squadron

USA,
Spangdahlem, Germany

196

134 FS

Jan 28

Fighter Squadron

134th Fighter Sqn
« The Green
Mountain Boys »

USA,
Burlington,
Vermont

343 BS

Jan 28

Bomb Squadron

343rd Bomb Sqn

USA, Barksdale,
Louisiana

198 ?

No 6

Feb ?

1942

Helicopter Squadron

No 6 RNZAF

NEW ZEALAND,
RNZ Navy

199 ?

100 FS

Feb 19

Fighter Squadron

100th Fighter Sqn
Tuskegee airmen Sqn

USA,
Montgomery,
Alabama

200

No 423

May 18

Helicopter Squadron

No 423 RCAF

CANADA,
Shearwater

201

14 FS

Jun 20

Fighter Squadron

14th Fighter Squadron
« Fightin’ Samurai »

USA,
Misawa, Japan

13 RS

Reconnaissance Sqn

13th Recce Squadron

USA, Beale,
California

203

No 425

Jun 22

Fighter Squadron

No 425 RCAF

CANADA,
Bagotville

204

VMA-214

Jul 1

1942

Fighter Squadron
Marine Attack Sqn

Pappy Boyington’s
« Black Sheep » Sqn

USA, Yuma,
Arizona

22 Sqn

Helicopter Squadron

22 Squadron SAAF

SOUTH AFRICA,
Ysterplaat

206

176 FS

Jul 16

1942

Fighter Squadron

176th Fighter Sqn
« Badger Air Militia »

USA,
Madison,
Wisconsin

207

131 FS

Aug 18

1942

Fighter Squadron

131st Fighter Sqn
« Barnestormers »

USA,
Barnes,
Massachussetts

208

159 FS

Sep 30

1942

Fighter Squadron

159th Fighter Sqn

USA,
Jacksonville,
Florida

209

148 FS

Oct 1

1942

Fighter Squadron

148th Fighter Sqn
« Kickin’ ass »

USA,
Tucson, Arizona

210

No 424

Oct 15

1942

Transport/Rescue Sqn

No 424 RCAF

CANADA,
Trenton

No 426

Transport training Sqn

No 426 RCAF

CANADA,
Trenton

212

No 427

Nov 7

1942

SOAS

No 427 RCAF

CANADA,
Petawawa

213

162 FS

Dec ?

1942

Fighter Squadron

162nd Fighter Sqn

USA,
Springfield-
Beckley, Ohio

214

188 FS

Jan 25

1943

Fighter Squadron

188th Fighter Sqn
« Enchilada Air Force »
« The Tacos »

USA, Kirtland,
Albuquerque,
New Mexico

215

No 617

Mar 21

1943

Fighter Squadron

No 617 RAF
« The Dambusters »

UK, Lossiemouth

216

175 FS

Apr 27

1943

Fighter Squadron

175th Fighter Sqn
« Fightin’ Lobos »

USA,
Sioux Falls,
South Dakota

217

182 FS

May 24

1943

Fighter Squadron

182nd Fighter Sqn
« Lonestar Gunfighters »

USA, Lackland,
San Antonio, Texas

218

186 FS

May 25

Fighter Squadron

186th Fighter Sqn
« Charlie Chickens »

USA, Great Falls,
Montana

219

179 FS

May 26

Fighter Squadron

179th Fighter Sqn
« Bulldogs »

USA,
Duluth, Minnesota

220

No 40

Jun 1

1943

Transport Squadron

No 40 RNZAF

NEW ZEALAND,
Auckland

93 FS

Fighter Squadron

93th Fighter Squadron
« Fighting Makos »

USA,
Homestead,
Florida

222

No 42

Dec ?

1943

VIP Transport Sqn

No 42 RNZAF

NEW ZEALAND,
Whenuapai

223

393 BS

Feb 28

1944

Bomb Squadron

393rd Bomb Sqn

USA, Whiteman,
Missouri

224

21 FS

Oct 15

1944

Fighter Squadron

21st Fighter Squadron
« Gamblers »

USA, Luke,
Arizona

225

157 FS

Feb 9?
Jun 30

1946

Fighter Squadron

157th Fighter Squadron
« Swamp Fox »

USA, McEntire,
South Carolina

226

124 FS

Oct ?

1948

Fighter Squadron

124th Fighter Sqn
« Hawkeyes »

USA,
Des Moines,
Iowa

170 FS

Oct ?

1948

Fighter Squadron

170th Fighter Sqn
« Fighting Illini »

USA,
Springfield,
Illinois

228

337 AS

May 10

1949

Transport Squadron

337th Airlift Squadron

USA, Westover,
Massachussetts

It has been very difficult to sort out these units in such a ranking as historians are still working on the military aviation history. It is hard to consider whether the administrative or material creation is taken into acount in some cases. For some flights or squadrons, you can find the administrative creation date only but you still find traces of pilots and aircraft’s existence of these very flights and squadrons after and even BEFORE the administrative creation!

Some other dates correspond to the day when units became operational. Moreover, mistakes have been pointed out in some books and website sources. It has become – since the beginning of this chart – that such charts should be updated. Last but not least, the Russian military aviation organization doesn’t match the western patterns, and coould not be inserted in these charts. That is to say that these charts cannot be exactly right… Sorry!

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A MUST in chivalry history – When Guynemer spared Udet after strafing through his wing

Here is a tribute to CPT Georges GUYNEMER who was killed in action on September 11th, 1917. Three months earlier, he fought with Ernst Udet, the ace who came up 2nd after the Red Baron. You can watch hereafter how this dogfight reportedly happened, and how these fighter pilots had the gut to keep honor above all:


Georges Guynemer, French Air Force pilot and WWI ace
Georges Guynemer by "Lucien" - Jebulon https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jebulon

Remember Guynemer’s mottos: FAIRE FACE (face up to it) was then adopted by the French Air Force Academy (FAFA) as their motto. A few words that well expresses the French pilots’ bravery.

The WWI French ace Georges Guynemer used to say:

– « Il y a une limite à toute chose, et il faut toujours la dépasser. « Everything has a limit which has always got to be surpassed. »
– « Lorsque l’on n’a pas tout donné, on n’a rien donné. » « As long as you have not given your all, you have given nothing »

Loyal to these principles, the French ace took part in several hundreds of aerial combats, crediting 53 victories. He was shot down seven times, and he was admired for he always survived, but that September 11, Ninety-three years ago. The hero took off once again. Outnumbered by German warplanes in a last dogfighting over Belgium. Then, he fell.

Since then, the French Air Force aviators have worn a black tie in sign of mourning.

RIP

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