Grupul 1 Aeronautic

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Grupul 1 Aeronautic
Grupul 1 Aviatie.png
Emblem of the Group, 1919
Active1916 - 1920[1]
Country Romania
BranchRomanian Air Corps
TypeAeronautical Group
Garrison/HQBacău
EngagementsFirst World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Major Ștefan Protopopescu

Grupul 1 Aeronautic ("1st Aeronautical Group" in English), also known as Grupul 1 Aviație ("1st Aviation Group") was one of the three groups of the Romanian Air Corps created following the aviation reorganization in the winter of 1916/1917.

History[]

After the reorganization of the Romanian Air Corps in the winter of 1916/1917, under the advice of the French Military Mission, 3 Aeronautical groups were created. Each composed of 2 reconnaissance and 1 fighter squadrons and each assigned to a Romanian or Russian army. Grupul 1 Aeronautic with its headquarters at Bacău was assigned to the 2nd Romanian Army.[2][3]

The group, commanded by Major (Maj.) Sturdza, was composed the following squadrons:[4]

  • Escadrila F.2 - commanded by Captain (Cpt.)  [ro] (until March), then by Captain Panait Cholet
  • Escadrila F.6 - commanded by Cpt. Scarlat Ștefănescu
  • Escadrila N.1 - commanded by Cpt.  [fr]

Campaign of 1917[]

Grupul 1 Aeronautic together with Grupul 2 Aeronautic contributed to the Battle of Mărăști. On 15 August 1917, the airmen of the group carried out 18 reconnaissance, bombing missions, photographing the enemy positions on the front of the 2nd Romanian Army.[2]

In preparation for an offensive on the Oituz Valley, the airmen of Grupul 1 Aeronautic executed numerous reconnaissance missions between 3 - 7 September 1917, the fighter pilots of N.1 squadron continued patrolling the front-line, engaging aircraft of the Central Powers. On 8 September, airmen of the F.2 and N.1 squadrons engaged enemy aircraft over Târgu Ocna, Cireșoaia and Slănic. The next day, managing to shoot down 3 aircraft. Between 9 - 12 September, 18 combat missions were completed, with dogfights being carried out in 12 of them. Two enemy aircraft were brought down, while the reconnaissance squadrons managed to photograph the whole front between Cireșoaia-Cașin and the  [ro].[2]

From 22 September 1917, Grupul 1 Aeronautic was composed of:[5]

  • Escadrila F.2 and Escadrula N.1 - with the aerodrome at Borzești
  • Escadrila F.6 - at Gârbovanul

1918[]

From January 1918, Grupul 1 Aeronautic was commanded by Maj. Athanase Enescu. All squadrons of the group were located at Bacău.[1]

Following Order no. 275/1918, the squadrons of the group were moved to auxiliary airfields, closer to the front-line in Bessarabia.

1919[]

In 1919, the N.1 and B.4 (ex-F.4) squadrons, part of Grupul 1 Aviație commanded by Major Ștefan Protopopescu, set their base at Chișinău, in order to support the Romanian troops of Grupul general Popovici. Escadrila N.10, which was part of Grupul 3 Aeronautic, was also sent to the front, being based at Cernăuți. All 3 squadrons executed mainly reconnaissance and bombing missions.[2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Valeriu Avram (2008). "Campania din Basarabia (ianuarie – iulie 1918)" (PDF). Buletinul Arhivelor Militare Române (in Romanian). pp. 47–50.
  2. ^ a b c d Alexandru Armă, Valeriu Avram (2018). Aeronautica română în Războiul de Întregire națională 1916-1919 (in Romanian). Editura Vremea. ISBN 978-973-645-853-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. ^ Mihail Orzeță, Valeriu Avram (2018). Romanian Aviation in the First World War (PDF).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  4. ^ Jănel Tănase (2018). "The Contribution of the Romanian Military Aeronautics in the Implementation and Defense of the Great Romania".
  5. ^ Valeriu Avram, Marius-Adrian Nicoară (9 August 2017). "Acţiunile aeronauticii militare române pe timpul marilor bătălii ale românilor din vara anului 1917". Revista Art-emis.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
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