03.011 Fighter Squadron "Corsica"

Fighter Squadron 3/11 Corsica
Escadron de Chasse 3/11 Corse
Active August 1933 - present
Country France France
Branch French Air Force
Type Fighter aircraft unit
Role Air Defense
Part of Fighter Brigade (France)
Garrison/HQ Air Base 188 Djibouti (Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport)
Engagements World War II
Indochina War
Suez Crisis
Algerian War
Western Sahara War
Gulf War
Bosnian War
Website Official Website (in French)
Aircraft flown
Fighter Mirage 2000 5-F
Jaguar with colors of 3/11 in 1986.
Mirage 2000-5F with 3/11 Corse at Djibouti.

The Escadron de Chasse or Fighter Squadron 3/11 Corse or EC 3/11 Corse is a French Air Force fighter squadron currently stationed at Djibouti Air Base (ICAO: HDAM).[1]

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 World War II, 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

  1. ↑ "Escadron de chasse 03.011 " Corse "" (in French). French MoD. Retrieved 16 December 2015.

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, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). 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.
  • 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.
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