Considered by many to be world's first air force, the French Air Service (Aéronautique Militaire) was established on 22 October 1910 under the command of General Roques.
France led the world in the design of early aircraft and by 1914 the French Air Service fielded 132 machines divided amongst 21 units (escadrilles). Primarily used for reconnaissance duties along the front, the Aéronautique Militaire rapidly increased in size and strength and by 1916 French aircraft manufacturers were supplying it with nearly 500 machines a month. By November 1918, the French Air Service consisted of 127,630 men and 3,222 aircraft.
During the Great War, the airmen of the French Air Service claimed 2,049 enemy aircraft in air combat and destroyed 357 kite balloons for some 3,500 killed in action, 3,000 wounded/missing and 2,000 killed in accidents.
| 1 |
Escadrille 3 |
21 |
Escadrille 77 |
41 |
Escadrille 97 |
| 2 |
Escadrille 12 |
22 |
Escadrille 78 |
42 |
Escadrille 98 |
| 3 |
Escadrille 15 |
23 |
Escadrille 79 |
43 |
Escadrille 99 |
| 4 |
Escadrille 23 |
24 |
Escadrille 80 |
44 |
Escadrille 100 |
| 5 |
Escadrille 26 |
25 |
Escadrille 81 |
45 |
Escadrille 102 |
| 6 |
Escadrille 31 |
26 |
Escadrille 82 |
46 |
Escadrille 103 |
| 7 |
Escadrille 37 |
27 |
Escadrille 83 |
47 |
Escadrille 124 |
| 8 |
Escadrille 38 |
28 |
Escadrille 84 |
|
|
| 9 |
Escadrille 46 |
29 |
Escadrille 85 |
|
|
| 10 |
Escadrille 48 |
30 |
Escadrille 86 |
|
|
| 11 |
Escadrille 49 |
31 |
Escadrille 87 |
|
|
| 12 |
Escadrille 57 |
32 |
Escadrille 88 |
|
|
| 13 |
Escadrille 62 |
33 |
Escadrille 89 |
|
|
| 14 |
Escadrille 65 |
34 |
Escadrille 90 |
|
|
| 15 |
Escadrille 67 |
35 |
Escadrille 91 |
|
|
| 16 |
Escadrille 68 |
36 |
Escadrille 92 |
|
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| 17 |
Escadrille 69 |
37 |
Escadrille 93 |
|
|
| 18 |
Escadrille 73 |
38 |
Escadrille 94 |
|
|
| 19 |
Escadrille 75 |
39 |
Escadrille 95 |
|
|
| 20 |
Escadrille 76 |
40 |
Escadrille 96 |
|
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