Groupe de Combat 11

See also Groupe de Chasse

History

Groupe de Combat 11 of the French Air Force was founded on 1 November 1916,^[1] being formed by consolidating Escadrilles 12, 31, 48, and 57.^[2]

The groupe was equipped with a melange of SPADs, Nieuports, Sopwiths, and Morane-Saulniers when it was posted to V Armee of the French Army in early February 1917. Within the month, it had moved to IV Armee. In July 1917, it moved to Flanders as fighting intensified.^[2]

Groupe de Combat 11 was inducted into a larger unit, Escadre de Combat No. 2, on 27 February 1918, under command of Chef de Bataillon Phillip Fequant. GC 11 supported I Armee and III Arme from March onward. On 14 May 1918, Escadre de Combat No. 2 was one of the units incorporated into the larger 1er Division Aerienne. However, on 28 May, GC 11 was detached to support both IV Armee and V Armee.^[2]

Commanding officers

• Capitaine Edouard Dusiegneur: January 1917 - 19 June 1918
• Capitaine Marcel Bonnevay: 20 June 1918^[2]

Notable personnel

• Armand de Turenne
• Henri Languedoc
• Pierre Dufaur de Gavardie
• Joseph M. X. de Sévin^[3]
• Lieutenant Jacques Ortoli
• Adjutant Georges Blanc
• Sous Lieutenant Jules Covin
• Sous Lieutenant François Portron^[2]

Endnotes

1. Franks et al. 1992, p. 94.
2. Franks, Bailey 1992, p. 91.
3. Franks, et al. 1992, p. 89.

References

• Franks, Norman; Frank W. Bailey. Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.