Escadrille Spa.112

{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Escadrille Spa.112 |image= |caption= |dates= 1914–1918 |country= {{flag|France}} |allegiance= |branch= 15px  French Air Service |type= Fighter Squadron |role= |size= |command_structure= |garrison= |garrison_label= Home station |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= Branch color |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours=Mentioned in dispatches |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |notable_commanders= |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= |identification_symbol_4= |identification_symbol_4_label= }} {{Use American English|date=September 2020}}

'''''Escadrille Spa.112''''' (also known as ''Escadrille V.29'', ''Escadrille VB.112'', ''Escadrille F.112'', and ''Escadrille N.112'') was a French air force squadron active for the near-entirety of World War I. After serving until mid-1917 in various iterations of a bombing squadron, they were re-equipped with Nieuport fighters. With their Nieuports, and their subsequent SPADs, they destroyed 28 enemy airplanes by the ceasefire.

==History== '''''Escadrille Spa.112''''' began its existence on 1 September 1914 as ''Escadrille V.29'', the squadron designation reflecting its equipment with Voisin aircraft. On 18 December, they were tasked to support ''Ier Armee''. On 15 May 1915, they were renamed ''Escadrille VB.112'', meaning they must have been outfitted with new bomber airplanes. The ''escadrille'' was one of those concentrated into ''Groupe de Bombardement No. 4'', a more powerful bombardment force.<ref name=front>''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 104</ref>

The squadron fought in the Second Battle of Artois, and was Mentioned in dispatches on 25 July 1915. Afterwards, the squadron was disbanded within ''Groupe de Bombardement No. 4'' on 20 November 1915, only to be reconstituted within ''Groupe de Bombardement No. 1''. Then they were refitted with Farmans and redubbed ''Escadrille F.112''. On 19 March 1916, the squadron moved to support ''IV Armee''. On 20 March, it became part of a larger fighter unit, ''Groupe de Combat 15''. On 11 June 1916, they were supplied with Nieuport fighters to become ''Escadrille N.112''. Resupplied with SPAD fighters in December, they were renamed as ''Escadrille Spa.112''.<ref name=front/>

On 10 January 1918, ''Escadrille Spa.112'' was transferred to ''Groupe de Combat 16''. The ''Groupe'' supported an array of field armies; this included assignment to the 1st American Army from 1 April to 10 September 1918 for the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. By the Armistice, the squadron was credited with 28 verified aerial victories.<ref name=front/>

==Commanding officers== * ''Captaine'' Sourdeau: 1 September 1914 - 18 December 1914 * ''Capitaine'' Gustave Ludmann: 18 December 1914 * Lieutenant Pierre Merat: 15 March 1916 - war's end<ref name=front/>

==Notable members== * ''Sous lieutenant'' Victor Régnier * ''Sous lieutenant'' Fernand Henri Chavannes * ''Sous lieutenant'' Lionel de Marmier<ref name=front/>

==Aircraft== * Voisin: 1 September 1914 - 15 May 1915 * Unknown type of bomber(s): 15 May 1915 - ? * Farman: ? - 11 June 1916 * Nieuport fighters: 11 June 1916 - December 1916 * SPAD fighters: December 1916 - war's end<ref name=front/>

==End notes== {{reflist}}

==References== * 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}}.

Category:French Air and Space Force squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1914 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 Category:Military units and formations of France in World War I Category:Military aviation units and formations in World War I