Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence

Escadron]] de Chasse 1/7 Provence (Fighter Squadron 1/3 Navarre) is a French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) fighter squadron currently stationed at BA 104 Al Dhafra Air Base which flies the Dassault Rafale B & C.[1]

Fighter Squadron 1/7 Provence
Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence
A SEPECAT Jaguar when is active service under the squadron
ActiveOctober 1932 - present
Country France
Branch Armée de l'air et de l'espace
TypeFighter aircraft
RoleBombardment & Aerial Defense
Part ofAir Forces Command
Garrison/HQBA 104 Al Dhafra Air Base

In 2006 it was the first unit to fly the Dassault Rafale. The Squadron’s aircraft are marked 113-HA to 113-HZ.

History
See also: No. 328 Squadron RAF

Designations and different nominations
Jaguar E37 7-HZ conserved at the Aviation Museum of Lyon-Corbas.
  • Groupe de Chasse I/7 : from 1932 until October 1942
  • Groupe de Chasse I/7 Provence : from November 1 1943 until July 1 1947
  • Groupe de Chasse I/1 Provence : from July 1 1947 until November 17 1951
  • Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence : as of March 1 1962

Origins until the Second World War

The EC 1/7 Provence originated as Groupe de Chasse 1/7 GC 1/7 (Hunter Group) Dijon in 1932. In turn, it traces its own origin back to two World War I squadrons: Escadrille Spa.15 and Escadrille Spa.77.[2] In January 1939 the fighter group 1/7 relocated to Tunisia, and subsequently moved to Egypt after the 1940 armistice. It was disbanded in October 1942.

Successive attachments

Indochina and Algeria

GC 1/7 was recreated in September 1943 using Spitfire MK VB and participated in the North Africa campaign, the campaign to liberate Corsica and the Provence landings, thus giving it the name Provence. At the end of World War II, the unit was awarded the "Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)" and from December 1945 to January 1946, the fighter group received a consignment of captured Japanese Nakajima ki-43 "Hayabusa" fighter planes. Groupe de Chasse 1/7 received its first Mistral in April 1953, participated in the Algerian war and was reequipped with Mystère IV operating out of Dijon military base. It was disbanded in September 1961.

The Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence was recreated in March 1962 at Nancy – Ochey 133 Air Base, using Mystère IV. In 1973, the Squadron became the first Air force unit to be equipped with SEPECAT Jaguar and relocated to BA 113 Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base. 1/7 Provence Jaguars engaged in combat missions in Mauritania (1978), in Chad (1980’s), in the Gulf War (1990-1991) and in Bosnia. After the Escadron de Chasse 2/11 Vosges was disbanded, 1/7 Provence was expanded to 3 flights: la SPA 91 (Eagle on a skull) in December 1996.

The Jaguar (JAG) époque
Rafale B Escadron Provence.

In July 2001 the squadron received several two-seat Jaguars and the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets previously used by Escadron de Chasse 2/7 Argonne.

The Rafale époque

The Jaguars were retired in July 2005 and replaced by Dassault Rafale one year later. In January 2007 1/7 Provence had twenty Rafale B and C. In March 2007 three Rafales were deployed to Dushanbe in Tajikistan, and carried out their first patrol over Afghanistan two days later.[4]

In September 2007, 1/7 Provence Squadron’s Alpha Jets were transferred to the newly recreated Escadron d'Entraînement 3/8 Côte d'Or (EE 3/8 Côte d'Or).

Constituent Escadrilles
  • Escadrille 15
  • Escadrille Spa.77[2]
  • GC III/7(6) Furie (since August 24 2016)

Bases

Aircraft
Rafale C Escadron Provence.

See also

References
  1. "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.
  2. Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918, pp. 90, 97.
  3. http://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/actus-air/nouvelles-escadres-aeriennes-une-coherence-operationnelle-accrue-des-valeurs-renforcees
  4. Première mission des Rafale en Afghanistan

Bibliography
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918 London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
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