Escadrille Spa.159

{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= ''Escadrille N159 / Spa159'' |image= |caption= |dates= 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= World War I |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |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.159''''' was a French fighter squadron supporting ''VIII Armee'' during 1918. It was credited with destroying 11 German airplanes and an observation balloon.

==History== '''''Escadrille Spa.159''''' (original designation ''Escadrille N.159'') began on 16 January 1918 with a draft of personnel from ''Escadrille N.90''. Assigned to ''VIII Armee'', they were incorporated into ''Groupe de Combat 20'' in late February. In May, it replaced its Nieuport fighters with SPAD XIIIs; its unit designation was altered to ''Escadrille Spa.159''.<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. 107.</ref>

''Escadrille Spa.159'' saw combat at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. By war's end, the squadron had been credited with destroying 11 German airplanes and an observation balloon.<ref name=front/>

==Commanders== * Lieutenant Albert Roper: 16 January 1918 * Lieutenant Georges Mazimann: 22 June 1918 - killed in action 20 July 1918<ref name=front/> * Lieutenant Henri Hay De Slade: 28 July 1918 - 11 November 1918<ref>The Aerodrome website [http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/hay.php] Retrieved 13 August 2020.</ref>

==Notable member== * Lieutenant Henri Hay De Slade<ref name=front/>

==Aircraft== * Nieuport fighters: 16 January 1918 * SPAD XIII fighters: late February 1918.<ref name=front/>

==End notes== {{reflist}}

==References== * {{cite book |last1=Franks |first1=Norman |author1-link=Norman Franks |last2=Bailey |first2=Frank |title=Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918 |year=1993 |location=London |publisher= Grub Street |isbn=978-0-948817-54-0}} * {{cite magazine |last=Méchin |first=David |title=la SPA 159 en perdition dans la Marne: L'as qui tombe à pic |magazine=le Fana de l'Aviation |date=May 2013 |issue=522 |pages=32–39 |language=fr}}

Category:Squadrons of the French Service Aéronautique in World War I Category:Military units and formations established in 1918 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918