World War 2

TOURS AIRSHOW 2015

Toni G. — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 19:20:11 +0000

Red Arrows and Patrouille de France here below

Tours French Air Force Base celebrated its centenary this year on Sunday, the 7th of June as the air base was born in late 1915, fielded with the aviation school on Caudron G3. MF33 Flight (1/33 Belfort) was born in Tours in October 1914 but there is no evidence that it was stationed at Parçay-Meslay airfield.

The airshow gathered lots of aviation professionals as well as recreational aviation booths. About 56,000 people attended the event – a bit more than expected. The Belgian F-16 solo display, the Moroccan Marche Verte, the Red Arrows, the Patrouille de France, then the Rafale were the highlights of the beautiful day. The Swiss Army Super Puma helicopter performed an outstanding display, and a P-51 D Mustang and a Spitfire delighted WW2 fighter aircraft enthusiasts. Other flypasts performed by two Dassault Flamant MD.311, de Havilland Vampire and Mosquito made the attendees dream.

The visitors could also admire numerous aircraft in the static display area: RSAF and Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoons, a curious Piaggio 149 as its roundel comes from the UPDAF – Uganda Peoples Defense Air Force, a Caudron C.800 glider which looked like the C.25S that were used in the movie « Don’t look now… We’re being shot at! » (La grande vadrouille) flown by famous French actors Bourvil and Louis de Funès. A nice RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) Aermacchi M-346, a Dewoitine 501 which used to be stationed at Tours air base, a few WW2 Piper Cub, Dassault Mirage 2000-D, Mirage 2000-5, Rafale, and last but not least 2 A-10 Warthogs, and many more aircraft.

With the nice weather, cool northbound winds, and the smooth organisation, the event turned out to be a great success.

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PILOT’S HEROIC, TRAGIC FATE

Toni G. — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:53:50 +0000

Book Cover

THE LEGEND OF LITTLE EAGLE

« The Legend of Little Eagle » is a novel about destinies that intersect. It is based on a true story which involved an actual American pilot – Lieutenant LeRoy Lutz – whose warplane was hit by anti-aircraft fire while strafing a German train. He then made the decision of purposefully crashing into a clear area instead of dashing into a French village called Mardeuil in Champagne, in June 1944. He did not survive to his feat, but the villagers did.

LeRoy Lutz has been turned into « John Philippe Garreau », and LeRoy Lutz flew a P-38 Lightning whereas Garreau is on a P-51 Mustang for the novel.

Here is further information about this book from a post written by Florian Rochat – the book’s author – published in French on January 24th, 2012:

In 1999, while I was in Montana researching my novel « Cougar corridor », I discovered a letter mailed from France in 1947. It said how a pilot of the US Army Air Force, Lieutenant LeRoy Lutz, had avoided a tragedy by staying on his damaged plane in order not to fall on a small village of Champagne, Mardeuil. It was in June 1944. Having renounced the bail out option while still able to do so, Lutz (picture below) had paid with his life this heroic act. His Lightning P-38 crashed in a field.

I told in a previous article of this blog how this letter led me to write my latest novel, The Legend of Little Eagle.

But now I have found its author. His name is André Mathy and he lives in Epernay, France…

…Time passes by, History is forgotten, but for the old inhabitants of Mardeuil LeRoy Lutz is always a hero whose sacrifice helped avoid civilian casualties in their village. « This story keeps coming to my mind, » said André Mathy.

I have been able to find him, which moves me. For this endpoint in the long story that was the writing of The Legend of Little Eagle highlights a surprising phenomenon on which I return repeatedly – over the reconstruction of the life of my hero who experienced a similar fate to LeRoy Lutz – in this story in which the notion of fate is perhaps the theme: the meaning and weight of stories, as explained in several books by William Kittredge, one of the great writers of Montana. According to him, our lives are ceaselessly intertwined with narrative, with the stories that we tell or hear told, those that we dream or imagine or would like to tell, all of which are reworked in that story of our own lives that we narrate to ourselves in an episodic, somewhat semiconscious, but virtually uninterrupted monologue. We live immersed in narrative (have you noticed?) These stories allow us, according to him, to situate ourselves in the world, and find meaning in our existence in the chaos of life. « We live in stories. We are stories, » he asserts.

“We tell stories to talk out the trouble in our lives, trouble otherwise so often so unspeakable. It is one of our main ways of making our lives sensible. Trying to live without stories can make us crazy. They help us recognize what we believe to be most valuable in the world, and help us identify what we hold demonic,” Kittredge adds.

Seventeen years ago, when he finally learned about his father’s display of courage, Richard Lutz, LeRoy’s son, declared: « I was twelve years old when my mother told me that my father had died in France. I always thought he was the bravest pilot on earth. But now I know. »

This book has already had 4.7 stars out of 13 customer reviews on Amazon.fr. It is a breath-taking novel according to them. The readers did love Florian Rochat’s talent and style. The synopsis made them believe that it was a book on aviation. It is, with many scenes of air combat during John Philip Garreau’s missions over Germany and France. But there is more to it. As mentioned above, it mainly deals with puzzling questions on destiny and fates bound within a same tragic event. However, these readers loved reading this unbelievable story. Air combat is not swept out of sight as the act of gallantry when LeRoy Lutz veered away from the village to save lives is well highlighted. Moreover, the hero amazingly meets with a famous WWII aviator.

Many reviews, and articles have been posted about this book, especially in French since it was first written in French. Here are two of them:

https://baugelitt.eu/florian-rochat-la-legende-de-little-eagle-le-passe-tenace/

You can read Florian Rochat’s biography on Xavier Cotton’s blog « Passion pour l’Aviation« . Special thanks to Xavier who passed the information on.

« The Legend of Little Eagle » is on sale as an ebook on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.UK, Amazon.ca, and Amazon.com.au, Smashwords and other digital platforms, and as a paperback on all Amazon bookstores. Author’s website: www.florianrochat.com

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ER 2/33 SAVOIE – AMONG OLDEST SQUADRONS

Toni G. — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:01:40 +0000

December 1, 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 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-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	1912	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	1912	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
51 ?	102 RQS	May ?	1915	Heavier than air Rescue Sqn	102nd Rescue Sqn	USA, Westhampton Beach, New York
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
124	SPA 162	Jan 28	1918	Fighter Flight	EC 1/7 Provence	FRANCE, Saint Dizier
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
127	77 AS	Feb 20	1918			USA, Beale, California & USA, Shaw, South Carolina
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	Aug 20		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	Aug 21		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
138	BR 257	Apr 8	1915?	AEW Flight	36th EDCA	FRANCE, Avord
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
140	BR 237	Feb 17	1916?	Transport Flight	ETOM 82 Maine	FRANCE, Tahiti
141	SPA 163	Apr 4	1918	Fighter & Experimentation Flight	EC 5/330 Cote d’argent	FRANCE, Mont de Marsan
141	SPA 163	May 6	1918	Fighter & Experimentation Flight	EC 5/330 Cote d’argent	FRANCE, Mont de Marsan
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
143	SPA 167	Jan 1 ?	1918	Fighter Flight	EC 2/4 La Fayette	FRANCE, Istres
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
151 ?	No 402	Oct 5	1932	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	1939	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
169	125 FS	Dec ?	1940	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
183 ?	No 407	May 8	1941	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
186 ?	No 410	Jun ?	1941	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
196	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
201	13 RS	Jun 20		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
204	22 Sqn	Jul 1	1942	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
210	No 426	Oct 15	1942	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
220	93 FS	Jun 1	1943	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
226	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!

The post ER 2/33 SAVOIE – AMONG OLDEST SQUADRONS appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

PEARL HARBOR ATTACK & WWII

Toni G. — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:50:14 +0000

The Pearl Harbor Attack(called Hawaii Operation or Operation AI by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters – Operation Z in planning – and the Battle of Pearl Harbor) happened on Sunday December 7, 1941 ie 70 years ago. Here is a video of remembrance of the infamous day which dragged the United States of America into World War II:

Pearl Harbor: A Landmark in History, part 5 from Pacific Historic Parks on Vimeo.

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RENO AIR RACES CRASH – Pilot Tried to Avoid Bleachers

Toni G. — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:32:06 +0000

74-year-old Jimmy Leeward, a movie stunt pilot was flying a P-51 Mustang called « Galloping Ghost » for the Reno Air Race yesterday September 16, 2011.

On the video you can see that shortly after lifting-up to reach the middle part of a loop, the aircraft dived towards the bleachers, and crashed very close to them. According to the news, 3 died, and 54 would have been injured, 12 of which in severe conditions. A Mayday emergency call would have been heard a few seconds before the accident.

The Reno Air Races have been cancelled even if the families insisted on letting the airshow go on. Some videos on the Internet show how violent the impact was. The area has been cordoned off as the NTSB is still investigating, as well as FAA officials were on the spot, and a mass-casualty situation has been reported.

Jimmy Leeward would have tried to dodge the bleachers as his P-51 was going down. The famous pilot would have saved hundreds of potential casualties before he died, according to this eyewitness account:

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South African Air Force Museum

Toni G. — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:19:34 +0000

SAAF Museum Swartkop South African Air Force Museum
envoyé par Africatravelchannel. – Explorez des lieux exotiques en vidéo.

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