| Escadrille VB – 103 – N 103 – SPA - 103 | |
|---|---|
 Spad S.XIII ofRené Fonck with the flying stork unit emblem | |
| Active | 1914-1918 |
| Country | France |
| Branch | French Air Service |
| Type | Bomber/Pursuit Escadrille |
| Engagements | World War I |
Escadrille 103 of theFrench Air Force was an elite aviation unit on theWestern Front duringWorld War I. One of its many aces,René Fonck was the highest scoring Allied fighter-pilot.
Escadrille 103 was formed fromBreguet Escadrille 17, which was founded on 2 August 1914 atLongvic. On 16 November 1914, it re-equipped withVoisins, becomingEscadrille VB.3. On 23 November 1914, it was posted toGroupe de Bombardment No. 1, commanded byCommandant Louis de Goys de Mezeyrac. On 4 March 1915, it was redesignatedEscadrille VB.103. As part of GB.1, the escadrille was cited for its valor on 27 May 1915. GeneralFerdinand Foch issued the citation on 1 June. Foch would issue a second citation on 19 September 1915, based on the bombing raids of the 13th onLudwigshafen.[1]
On 19 February 1916, the escadrille was converted to anescadrille de chasse (fighter squadron). It was issuedNieuports and renumbered asEscadrille N.103. On 16 April 1916, the unit was amalgamated intoGroupement de Combat de la Somme, along withEscadrilles N.26,N.73, andN.3.Escadrilles N.37,N.62, andN.65 were also temporarily assigned to the groupement. All seven units were placed under command of Brocard.[clarification needed] On 1 November 1916, the original four squadrons, includingEscadrille N.103, were consolidated asGroupe de Combat 12 (GC 12), under the continuing command of Brocard.[1] The SPADs in GC 12 bore insignia of storks in different phases of flight and were known as "Les Cignones."
On 28 January 1917, the unit was posted to theXe Armée. It transferred to theVIIe Armée in March. On 12 July, it moved to supportIer Armée inFlanders. GC 12, includingEscadrille 103, was transferred to VIe Armée again on 11 December 1917.[1][2]
Escadrille 103 continued its service within GC 12, as the group made transitions to support Xe Armée on 5 June 1918;Ve Armée on 17 July; to Ier Armée on 29 July;[2] and toIIe Armée on 9 September 1918. It received its third citation on the 9th, though the first as fighter unitEscadrille Spa.103. It was credited with destroying 85 enemy aircraft and disabling 69 others. Its final tally for the entire war was 108 enemy aircraft and threeobservation balloons destroyed.[1] The heritage of the escadrille continues in the present day French air force; it is represented by the top bird on the Escadrille de Chasse 1/2 squadron emblem.