Escadron de Chasse 3/11 Corse
Escadron de Chasse (Fighter Squadron 3/11 Corse) is a French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) fighter squadron currently stationed at BA 188 Djibouti Air Base (ICAO: HDAM).[1]
| Fighter Squadron 3/11 Corsica | |
|---|---|
| Escadron de Chasse 3/11 Corse | |
 Mirage 2000-5F with 3/11 Corse at Djibouti | |
| Active | August 1933 - present |
| Country |  France |
| Branch |  Armée de l'air et de l'espace |
| Type | Fighter aircraft |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Air Forces Command |
| Garrison/HQ | BA 188 Djibouti (Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport) |
| Engagements | World War II Indochina War Suez Crisis Algerian War Western Sahara War Gulf War Bosnian War |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Dassault Mirage 2000 5-F |
The squadron is composed of three historic escadrilles (Flights), C46, SPA 69, and SPA 88, dating back decades and with many historical traditions.
Second World War
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Groupe de Chasse I/3 (GC I/3) was equipped with the Morane-Saulnier MS.406. After seeing combat during the Phoney War, GC I/3 relocated to southern France. While at Cannes-Mandelieu, the unit converted to the new Dewoitine D.520 fighter. When the Battle of France began in May 1940, it was the only unit to be operationally ready with the D.520, which it first took to battle on May 12 after hastily relocating to Wez-Thuisy. In late June 1940, as the collapse of the French armies was inevitable, GC I/3 crossed the Mediterranean to escape capture. Here it went under control of the Vichy government. After three of its pilots, including ace Marcel Albert, had defected to Gibraltar to join the Free French, the Germans requested GC I/3 to be disbanded. However, the unit was simply renamed GC III/3, using the designation of a squadron that had been disbanded the previous year. Under this guise, the unit briefly faced the Allies during Operation Torch.
After French forces in North Africa had sided with the Allies, the unit was re-christened GC 1/3 Corse and was re-equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters.
It then operated under the Royal Air Force, which referred to it as No. 327 (French) Squadron. No. 327 Squadron was active from 1 December 1943 until November 1945.
References
Citations
- "Chiffres clés de l'Armée de l'air - L'Armée de l'air en chiffres : 2019-2020 (FR)". French Air and Space Force. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
Bibliography
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Lavergne, Pierre & Regazzoni, Herminio (July 1999). "Courrier des Lecteurs" [Readers' Letters]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (76): 13–15. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighters Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers)Ltd., 1969 (New revised edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (February 1999). "Historique du "Corse": I) Les escadrilles Spa 69 et Spa 88 en 1914/1918" [History of "Corse": The Squadrons Spa 69 and Spa 88 in 1914–1918]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (71): 48–55. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (March 1999). "Historique du "Corse": II) Le GC I/3 pendant la Second Guerre Mondiale" [History of "Corse": GC I/3 During the Second World War]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (72): 13–19. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (April 1999). "Historique du "Corse" (III) Mosquito en Indochine" [History of "Corse": Mosquitos in Indochina]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (73): 12–18. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Soumille, Jean-Claude (May 1999). "Historique du "Corse" (fin) Spitfire, Hellcat et Bearcat sur l'Indochine" [History of "Corse": Spitfire, Hellcat and Bearcat in Indochina]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (74): 14–21. ISSN 1243-8650.
External links
