Georges Guynemer
| Georges Guynemer | |
|---|---|
G. Guynemer by Lucien, Musée national de la Légion d'Honneur et des Ordres de Chevalerie
|
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| Born | 24 December 1894 Paris |
| Died | 11 September 1917 (aged 22) South of Poelkapelle, Belgium (presumably) |
| Allegiance |
 France
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| Service/branch |
 French Air Service
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| Years of service | 1914–1917 |
| Rank | Capitaine |
| Unit | Escadrille N.3, MS 3, Spa3 |
| Awards |
Légion d'honneur Croix de Guerre Médaille militaire |
Georges Guynemer (French pronunciation: [ʒɔʁʒ ɡinmɛːʁ], 24 December 1894 – 11 September 1917 missing) was a top fighter ace for France with 54 victories during World War I, and a French national hero at the time of his death.
Georges Marie Ludovic Jules Guynemer was born in Compiègne to a wealthy and aristocratic family. His father was Paul Guynemer. His mother, Julie, Countess of Saint-Quentin, was a descendant of the House of Bourbon by Bathilde d'Orléans, mother of the Duke of Enghien. He experienced an often sickly childhood. Nevertheless, he succeeded as an aviator through his enormous drive and self-confidence.
He was originally rejected for military service, but was accepted for training as a mechanic in late 1914. With determination, he gained acceptance to pilot training, joining Escadrille MS.3 on 8 June 1915. He remained in the same unit for his entire service. He experienced both victory and defeat in the first plane allocated to him, a Morane-Saulnier L monoplane previously flown by Charles Bonnard, and accordingly named Vieux Charles (Old Charles). On 19 July 1915 he shot down his first plane, a German Aviatik. Guynemer kept the name and continued to use it for most of his later aircraft.
On 5 December 1915, the Escadrille MS.3 was renamed the Escadrille N.3, after being re-equipped with new Nieuport 10 fighters. Flying the more effective plane, Guynemer quickly established himself as one of France's premier fighter pilots. He became an ace by his fifth victory in February 1916, and was promoted to lieutenant in March. At the year's end, his score had risen to 25. Capitaine Brocard, commander of Escadrille N.3 (Storks), described Guynemer at that time as "...my most brilliant Stork." Less than a year later, Guynemer was promoted to captain and commander of the Storks squadron.
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