8e Escadre de Chasse

The 8^e Escadre de Chasse '8^e EC or 8th Fighter Wing' is a fighter formation of the Fighter Brigade of the French [Air and Space Force], which was reformed on 25 August 2015 at Cazaux Air Base.
The unit has known previously various periods of activity:

On Aerial Base 108 Marignane, between 1 January 1936 and 1 May 1939;
In Indochina, between 16 January 1951 and 27 July 1954;
In Morocco, on Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé, between 1 August 1955 and November 1960
In Algeria on the base of Oran La Senia between November 1960 and July 1961
At Nancy Ochey between July 1961 and 1 December 1961
At Cazaux, between 1 February 1964 and 1 July 1993.

Composition

Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 1/8 Saintonge
Escadron de Transition Opérationnelle 2/8 Nice
Escadron d'Entraînement 3/8 Côte d'Or
Escadron de Soutien Technique Aéronautique 15/8 Pilat

Escadrons/Squadrons history

The 8^e Escadre possesses two historical squadrons, the "Saintonge" and "Nice". The squadron "Languedoc" was attached to the Escadre during ten years.

Before WWII

Hunter Group - Groupe de Chasse I/8 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 May 1939
Groupe de Chasse II/8 : from 1 January 1936 and 1 May 1939

Escadron/Squadron "Saintonge"

Groupe Mixte I/8 Saintonge : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
Hunter Squadron Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Saintonge : from 9 September 1960 until 1 December 1961, and from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993

Escadron/Squadron "Languedoc"

Groupe de Chasse II/8 Languedoc : from 1 August 1951 until 27 July 1954
Escadron de chasse 2/8 Languedoc : from 1 August 1955 until 1 December 1961

Escadron/Squadron "Maghreb"

Escadron de Chasse 1/8 Maghreb : from 1 August 1955 until September 1960

Escadron/Squadron "Nice"

Escadron de Chasse 2/8 Nice : from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993

Bases

Aerial Base 108 Marigane: from 1 January 1936 until 1 May 1939
Indochina : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
Aerial Base 151 Rabat-Salé: from 1 August 1955 until the beginning of 1960
Aerial Base Nancy-Ochey : from the beginning of 1960 until 1 December 1961
Aerial Base 120 Cazaux : from 1 February 1964 until 31 July 1993, and as of 25 August 2015

Equipment

Morane-Saulnier MS.225 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 January 1939
Dewoitine D.500 : from 1 January 1936 until 1 January 1939
Dewoitine D.510 : from 1 January 1939 until 1 May 1939
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat : from 16 January 1951 until 27 July 1954
Mistral : from 1 August 1955 until 1959
Dassault Mystère IVA : from June 1959 until 1 December 1961, and from 1 February 1964 until 1982
Alpha Jet: from October 1982 until 31 July 1993, and as of 25 August 2015