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 :
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.
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
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 – 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
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
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.
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 time 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!
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.
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 Recce Squadron, SAL 6 « Rhine Gull » 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 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 – 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 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 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-EntzheimFAF 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!
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 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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