Escadrille Spa.76

{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Escadrille Spa.76 |image= |caption= |dates= 1916–1918 |country= {{flag|France}} |allegiance= |branch= 15px  French Air Service |type= Fighter/reconnaissance 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.76''''' was a French fighter and reconnaissance squadron active during the First World War years of 1916 to 1918. Cited for taking more than 3,000 aerial photographs for military intelligence purposes, the unit was also credited with destroying 26 German aircraft.

==History== ''Escadrille Spa.76'' was founded in August 1916 at Lyon. Its original equipment of Caudron R.IV bombers was quickly replaced by Nieuport fighters, and the new unit designated ''Escadrille N.76'' before its 8 September transfer to the ''V Armee'' at Muizon. thumb|The Caudron R.IV was the squadron's original equipment. It was refitted with SPAD S.VII<ref name=spad7>The Aerodrome website page on the S.7 [https://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/france/spad_vii.php] Retrieved 31 August 2020</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2021|reason=theaerodrome.com is considered generally unreliable}} and SPAD S.XIII<ref name=spad13>The Aerodrome website page on the S.13 [https://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/france/spad_xiii.php] Retrieved 31 August 2020</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2021|reason=theaerodrome.com is considered generally unreliable}} fighters in late 1917, causing it to be renamed ''Escadrille Spa.76''.<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. 97</ref>

After the war's end, on 2 February 1919, ''Escadille Spa.76'' would be mentioned in dispatches for having fought in 440 dogfights and destroying 26 German aircraft, as well as flying 70 reconnaissance missions resulting in more than 3,000 photographs.<ref name=front/>

==Commanding officers==

* ''Capitaine'' Rene Doumer:<ref name="front" /> August 1916 - missing in action 26 April 1917 * ''Capitaine'' Jean-Jacques Perrin: 26 April 1917 - ? * ''Capitaine'' Eugene Verdon: ? * Lieutenant Pierre Vitoux: 6 May 1917<ref name=front/>

==Aircraft==

thumb|The SPAD S.X13 fighter was the squadron's final sircraft for the war. * Caudron R.IVs * Nieuport fighters: c. 8 September 1916 - late 1917 * SPAD S.VII<ref name=spad7/>{{better source needed|date=December 2021|reason=theaerodrome.com is considered generally unreliable}} and SPAD S.XIII<ref name=spad13/>{{better source needed|date=December 2021|reason=theaerodrome.com is considered generally unreliable}} fighters: Late 1917 - 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:Fighter squadrons of the French Air and Space Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1916 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