{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= ''Escadrille Spa.69'' |image= |caption= |dates= 1915–1918 |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=Twice Mentioned in dispatches; Fourragere of the ''Croix de Guerre'' |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.69''''' (originally named ''Escadrille N.69'') was a French fighter squadron derived from one of its military's oldest aviation units. Active from September 1915 until the 11 November 1918 Armistice, the ''escadrille'' campaigned on both the Western and Italian Fronts with ''X Armee''. It was credited with 38 aerial combat victories.
==History== '''''Escadrille Spa.69''''' had its origins in one of France's oldest military aviation units; BL C5 was an observation unit flying Bleriots that was attached to the cavalry. Personnel were drawn from BL C5 in September 1915 to form ''Escadrille N. 69'', which was equipped with Nieuport fighters.<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. 96</ref>
The squadron was posted to ''X Armee''. On 28 February 1916, the ''escadrille'' moved to the Battle of Verdun. They returned to ''X Armee'' in July.<ref name=front/>
When the squadron had notched 20 aerial victories, it was Mentioned in dispatches. On 28 October 1917, the squadron accompanied ''X Armee'' to the Italian theater of operations. While in Italy, the squadron was re-equipped with SPAD fighters, changing its name to '''''Escadrille Spa.69'''''.<ref name=front/>
The newly outfitted squadron accompanied ''X Armee'' in its return to the Western Front, transferring on 26 March 1918. On 30 September 1918, ''Escadrille Spa.69'' was Mentioned in dispatches a second time, credited with destruction of 34 enemy aircraft. This second citation gave the unit the right to display the Fourragere of the ''Croix de Guerre''.<ref name=front/>
By the Armistice, ''Escadrille Spa.69'' was credited with destroying 38 enemy aircraft.<ref name=front/>
==Commanding officers== * ''Capitaine'' Robert Massenet-Royer de Marancour: Until 25 January 1917. * Lieutenant Paul Malavialle: 25 January 1917 until war's end.<ref name=front/>
==Notable members== * Major Fernand Bonneton * ''Capitaine'' Paul Malavialle * Lieutenant Honoré de Bonald<ref name=front/> * Sergeant Paul Rodde<ref name="front"/>
==Aircraft== thumb|left|French Nieuport 12 of ''Escadrille N.69'' at the Somme. * Blériot observation aircraft while still BL C5 * Nieuport fighters: September 1915 * SPAD fighters: c. November 1917 until 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}}. *{{cite journal |last1=Soumille|first1=Jean-Claude|title=Historique du "Corse": I) Les escadrilles Spa 69 et Spa 88 en 1914/1918|journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=February 1999 |issue=71 |pages=48–55 |trans-title=History of "Corse": The Squadrons Spa 69 and Spa 88 in 1914–1918|language=French |issn=1243-8650}}
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Category:Fighter squadrons of the French Air and Space Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1915 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