Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine

A Mirage F1 of the current Escadron de Chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen and another Mirage of the actual Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine in 1986 armed with Matra R530. Both respective squadron insignias are visible on the aircraft.

This Escadron is heir to the famous of Lorraine Bombardment Group (French: Groupe de bombardement Lorraine), Order of Liberation.

On June 27, 1944, the Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine was designated again 3/33 "Lorraine".

On June 18, 1996, the Escadron 3/33 « Lorraine » was awarded the Fourragere at the colors of the Order of Liberation by the President of France Jacques Chirac.

The 3/33 « Lorraine », placed in a dormant phase on August 2005, was reactivated under the designation of 3/30 "Lorraine" on October 2010 on Aerial Base 104 Al Dhafra (Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport) at the United Arab Emirates to fly on the Rafale and the Mirage 2000-5, then uniquely on the Rafale since March 2011.

On December 15, 2015 a Rafale B dropped a SCALP for the first time during Opération Chammal over Iraq.[2]

On June 24, 2016,[3] the 3/30 Lorraine was integrated into the 30^e Escadre de Chasse and replaced the 1/7 Provence on Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base. Only the traditions were transferred, not the personnel nor the aircraft. Accordingly, the aircraft were progressively repainted with the colors of the 3/30. The Escadron was transferred to BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan Air Base during the course of the following weeks.

Until dissolution in 2005 :

• 1st Escadrille : Metz (from June 27, 1994 until June 27, 2005)
• 2nd Escadrille : Nancy (from June 27, 1994 until June 27, 2005)
• 3rd Escadrille : Thionville (from September 1994 until June 27, 2005)

Since reactivation in 2010:

• SAL 56 "Scarabée"
• SPA 38 "Chardon de Lorraine"
• SPA 162 "Tigre" in 2016

F1B with colors of the 3/33 in 2002.

• Reserve Bombardment Group number 1 – Groupe Réservé de Bombardement n°1: December 4, 1940 – September 2, 1941
• Bombardment Group number 1 Lorraine – Groupe de Bombardement n°1 Lorraine: September 2, 1941 – April 7, 1943
• Royal Air Force Squadron No. 342: April 7, 1943 – December 15, 1944
• Bombardment Group I/20 – Groupe de Bombardement I/20 Lorraine: December 15, 1944 – March 11, 1946
• Reconnaissance Group I/20 – Groupe de Reconnaissance I/20 Lorraine: March 11, 1946 – July 1, 1947
• Reconnaissance Group I/31 – Groupe de Reconnaissance I/31 Lorraine: July 1, 1947 – November 1, 1949
• Night Hunter Squadron 1/31 – Escadron de Chasse de Nuit 1/31 Lorraine: November 1, 1949 – July 1, 1953
• Fighter Hunter Squadron 3/30 – Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine: July 1, 1953 – March 1, 1962
• All-Times/All-Weather Fighter Hunter Squadron 3/30 – Escadron de Chasse Tout-Temps 3/30 Lorraine: March 1, 1962 – December 20, 1973
• Fighter Hunter Squadron 3/30 – Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine: December 20, 1973 – June 27, 1994
• Fighter Hunter Squadron 3/30 – Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine: June 27, 1994 – July 26, 2005
• Fighter Hunter Squadron 3/30 – Escadron de Chasse 3/30 Lorraine: Since October 2010

From 1961 until 2005, the « Lorraine », Escadron successively equipped with Vautour IIN, then Mirage F1, has been deployed on Aerial Base 112 Reims-Champagne (Reims – Champagne Air Base). The latter was reactivated in 2010 on Aerial Base 104 Al Dhafra (Al Dhafra Air Base), at the United Arab Emirates. In 2016, the Escadron was transferred temporary to Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base on June 24, 2016 before joining Aerial Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan (Mont-de-Marsan Air Base).

• BA 112 Reims – Champagne Air Base (1961 to 2005)
• BA 104 Al Dhafra Air Base (2010 to 2016)
• BA 113 Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base (2016)
• BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan Air Base (2016–present)

« Lorraine » has been equipped with:

• Sud Aviation Vautour (1957 to 1974)
• Dassault Mirage F1C (from June 1974 until June 25, 2003)
• Dassault Mirage F1B (from June 1994 until July 26, 2005)
• Dassault Mirage F1CT (from August 2003 until July 26, 2005)
• Dassault Rafale C (October 2010 until present day)

• List of French Air and Space Force aircraft squadrons