Escadrille Spa.86 was formed as
Escadrille N86 because it was originally outfitted with
Nieuport airplanes, although it had a few
SPADs. Founded 6 April 1917 at
Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base, France, it was immediately incorporated into
Groupe de Combat 14 (Combat Group 14, or GC14). GC14 began its operations with
VI Armee. On 10 May 1917, GC14 was transferred to
II Armee on 29 June 1917. GC14 would be shifted three more times, late that year—to
VI Armee on 11 October, to
III Armee on 20 November, and to
VI Armee eight days later. By early 1918, the squadron had gone all SPAD and was redesignated as
Escadrille Spa.86. It remained part of GC14. The
groupe moved to
III Armee on 24 March 1918 for a week, back to
VI Armee, then attached to the
Royal Air Force Third Brigade on 15 April. It spent May in
Flanders. On 1 June 1918, GC14 was posted to
X Armee. On 9 October 1918, GC 14 moved to
1er Armee. That was their last posting, as the
Armistice of 11 November 1918 ended hostilities. On 28 October 1918,
Escadrille Spa.86 was
cited in orders for having destroyed 30 German aircraft. ==Commanding officers==