Created the 28 January 1918, the Escadrille 162 was originally created from the N 152, a fighter squadron which was equipped of Nieuport fighters, it was, at its creation, equipped with Nieuport 24 and 27, the Escadrille 162 was called at this time N 162. In April 1918, the squadron abandoned its Nieuports for the SPAD VII and XIII and took the name of SPA 162 the 1st May 1918. At the end of the war, the squadron had 5 victories against Drachens balloons and had loose 5 pilots. It's insignia was a roaring tiger, sometime puts on an oblique blue stip.

In 1919, the SPA 162 will be sent in Poland for the "Polish Mission" and was named over 19eme Escadron de Chasse Polonais.
In 1927, the SPA 162 was dissolved but the 6e Escadrille of the GC III/6 took back its traditions but kept its insignia, the Comedy Mask.

It's the 1st May 1952 that the SPA 162 with the SPA 89 reborn from its ashes with the creation of the Escadron de Chasse 1/12 "Cambrésis" on the air base of Mont de Marsan. The group was equipped with one of the first French jet fighter, the MD.450 Ouragan and was sent on the BA 103 of Cambray-Epinoy, the mission of the group was the aerial defense.
In September 1955, the Ouragan were exchanged with the Mystère IV before the group get its first Super Mystère B2 in April 1959. In 1977, the group received their first Dassault Mirage, the F1 and served with it in the Gulf War in 1990 for operate in the Opération METEIL, operation which had for purpose to protect Qatar, where it was based. It was of return in France in December 1990.

The EC 1/12 began its transformation on the Mirage 2000 RDI at its return in France and was totally equipped with it in 1992 before the EC 1/12 was dissolved the 30 March 2012 but the SPA 162 was transfered to the EC 1/7 "Provence" and serve as the squadron of transformation on Rafale with the two-seated variant of the Rafale.

Under the EC 1/12, the SPA 162 was one of the three squadrons fundator of the NATO Tiger Association with the n°74 Squadron RAF and the USAF 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1961. The SPA 162 get 4 times the Silver Tiger, the trophy for the most performing squadron during exercies and animations, it was in 1992, 2001, 2006 and in 2009.

This insignia was photographed on the nose of the Rafale C of the Rafale Solo Display which has the livery of the NATO Tiger Meet 2015 at the FAI WAC of Châteauroux