Grupul 1 Aeronautic

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. {{lang|ro|Grupul 1 Aeronautic}} with its headquarters at Bacău was assigned to the 2nd Romanian Army.{{cite book|title=Aeronautica română în Războiul de Întregire națională 1916-1919|author1=Alexandru Armă|author2=Valeriu Avram|language=ro|publisher=Editura Vremea|date=2018|isbn=978-973-645-853-8}}{{cite journal|url=https://en-gmr.mapn.ro/webroot/fileslib/upload/files/arhiva%20reviste/RMT/2018/RMT-3_2018.pdf|title=Romanian Aviation in the First World War|journal=Romanian Military Thinking |author1=Mihail Orzeață|author2=Valeriu Avram|issue=3/2018|date=2018|pages=206–231}}

The group, commanded by Major (Maj.) Sturdza, was composed the following squadrons:{{cite web|url=http://revistapolis.ro/contributia-aeronauticii-militare-romane-la-realizarea-si-apararea-romaniei-mari/|title=The Contribution of the Romanian Military Aeronautics in the Implementation and Defense of the Great Romania|author=Jănel Tănase|date=2018}}

• {{lang|ro|Escadrila F.2}} - commanded by Captain (Cpt.) {{ill|Gheorghe Negrescu|ro|Gheorghe Negrescu}} (until March), then by Captain Panait Cholet
• {{lang|ro|Escadrila F.6}} - commanded by Cpt. Scarlat Ștefănescu
• {{lang|ro|Escadrila N.1}} - commanded by Cpt. {{ill|René Chambe|fr|René Chambe}}

File:Aéroplane devant un hangar, sur un terrain d'aviation en arrière du front - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - AP62T099233.jpg fighters of the group in 1917]]

{{lang|ro|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.

In preparation for an offensive on the Oituz Valley, the airmen of {{lang|ro|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, {{ill|Cireșoaia, Bacău|lt=Cireșoaia|ro|Cireșoaia, Bacău}} 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 {{ill|Coșna Hill|ro|Dealul Coșna}}.

From 22 September 1917, {{lang|ro|Grupul 1 Aeronautic}} was composed of:{{cite web|url=https://www.art-emis.ro/istorie/actiunile-aeronauticii-romanesti-pe-timpul-marilor-batalii-din-vara-anului-1917-4|title=Acțiunile aeronauticii militare române pe timpul marilor bătălii ale românilor din vara anului 1917|author1=Valeriu Avram|author2=Marius-Adrian Nicoară|work=Revista Art-emis|date=9 August 2017}}

• {{lang|ro|Escadrila F.2}} and {{lang|ro|Escadrila N.1}} - with the aerodrome at Borzești
• {{lang|ro|Escadrila F.6}} - at Gârbovanul

From January 1918, {{lang|ro|Grupul 1 Aeronautic}} was commanded by Maj. Athanase Enescu. All squadrons of the group were located at Bacău. Following Order no. 275/1918, the squadrons of the group were moved to auxiliary airfields, closer to the front-line in Bessarabia.{{cite magazine|url=https://amnr.defense.ro/webroot/fileslib/upload/files/Revista_Document/Revista_040_2008.pdf|title=Campania din Basarabia (ianuarie – iulie 1918)|magazine=Buletinul Arhivelor Militare Române|author=Valeriu Avram|language=ro|issue=40/2008|date=2008|pages=47–50|issn=1454-0924}}

In 1919, the N.1 and B.4 (ex-F.4) squadrons, part of {{lang|ro|Grupul 1 Aviație}} commanded by Major Ștefan Protopopescu, set their base at Chișinău, in order to support the Romanian troops of {{lang|ro|Grupul general Popovici}}. ({{lang|ro|Escadrila N.10}}, which was part of {{lang|ro|Grupul 3 Aeronautic}}, was also sent to the front, being based at Cernăuți. All 3 squadrons executed mainly reconnaissance and bombing missions. The S.2 Squadron which was previously part of the 1st Group, was assigned to the newly formed 5th Aviation Group in Transylvania. It returned to the Group in 1920.{{sfn|Pătrașcu|2020|page=235}}

By 1920, the group was located in Iași, where it would be named the 1st Reconnaissance Group.{{sfn|Buzenchi|2019|page=15}} In 1928, all reconnaissance groups were renamed to aviation groups,{{sfn|Pătrașcu|2020|page=235}} the 1st Reconnaissance Group being renamed to the 1st Aviation Group.{{sfn|Lazar|Stambuliu|2016|page=90}} With the increase in increase in aircraft and personnel, the aviation groups were converted to flotillas (air wings).{{sfn|Buzenchi|2019|page=15}}

The newly established 1st Aviation Flotilla comprised an observation and reconnaissance group, a fighter group, and also specialty squadrons. Around 1938–1939, the flotilla was transformed into the 1st Information Flotilla ({{lang|ro|Flotila 1 Informații}}).{{sfn|Lazar|Stambuliu|2016|page=90}} It consisted of the 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd Observation squadrons, and was equipped with IAR 37, 38, and 39 airplanes.{{cite magazine|author=Dan Antoniu|title=IAR-39|magazine=Modelism Internațional|language=ro|issue=1/1998|date=1998|page=4}}

• Grupul 2 Aeronautic
• List of Romanian Air Force units

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|first1=Laurențiu|last1=Buzenchi|url=https://www.arpia-filialacluj.ro/Documents/ebooks/Aviatia_Clujeana.pdf|title=Aviația clujeană|chapter=Aeronautica militară română – Cluj|language=ro|place=Cluj-Napoca|publisher=Casa Cărții de Știință|date=2019}}
• {{cite magazine|first1=Gabriel|last1=Pătrașcu|url=https://www.aos.ro/wp-content/misiunea/MISVol7Art.29.pdf|title=Unitățile de gardă ale Aeronauticii și Marinei Regale (1930-1947)|language=ro|issue=1/2020|magazine=Revista Misiunea|date=2020}}
• {{cite book|first1=Adrian|last1=Lazar|first2=Bogdan|last2=Stambuliu|title=Military and sociopolitical badges of Romania 1859-1947|place=Bucharest|publisher=Galeria Numismatica|date=2016}}

Category:Aviation history of Romania

Category:Romania in World War I

1