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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TOP 10 THRILLING AIRPORTS!

July 6, 2011 – The legendary Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport could have been inserted into this list but it closed down on July 6th, 1998 i.e. exactly 13 years ago, and this top ten gathers airfields still in service only. Gibraltar airport could have been part of it as a route (yes, you’ve well read) crosses its runway.

It must be very difficult to set up such ranking. This is what AirfareWatchdog has tried to do. Among them, a striking view of Courchevel airport at an altitude of 2,008 m featuring a steep slope in the middle of its runway.

VIDEO:

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Argentine, Uruguayan Flights, and more Cancelled due to Volcanic Ash

An ash blanket has covered Buenos Aires today June 9, 2011.

The Puyehue – a Chilean volcano – has been erupting since June 4, and as a result, all the aircraft have been grounded, as well as all the flights have been cancelled at the main Buenos Aires airports – Ezeiza International Airport (also Ministro Pistarini International Airport); Jorge Newbery Airport; and Ástor Piazzolla International Airport. Flights have been cancelled in Uruguay at Carrasco International Airport.

Traffic troubles had begun in Argentina on Tuesday, then the flight resumed on Wednesday. A huge ash cloud is still hovering over the Argentine capital at FL 290 (9,000 m). The cleaning operation are going on.

Watch the video hereafter:

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LC-130 takes off for Operation Deep Freeze

Master Sgt. Joseph Sinatra checks the air spring pressure on an LC-130 Hercules during a stop Oct. 18, 2010, at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The springs are used to absorb the shock of landing the ski-equipped aircraft on the Antarctic ice. Sergeant Sinatra and the rest of his LC-130 aircrew stopped at Hickam while en route to Antarctica to support Operation Deep Freeze, the Defense Department’s logistical support to U.S. research activities at the southernmost continent. Sergeant Sinatra is an LC-130 crew chief assigned to the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base, N.Y. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson).
US Air Force Link (www.af.mil) courtesy

LC-130 taking off with JATO from Greenland
LC-130 taking off with JATO from Greenland – Photo © Søren Wedel Nielsen (Copyright 2005)
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