Michel Coiffard
| Michel Coiffard | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 16 July 1892 Nantes, Loire-Atlantique |
| Died | 29 October 1918 (aged 26) Bergnicourt |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/branch | Artillery, Air Service |
| Years of service | 1910–1918 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | N.154/Spa.154 |
| Commands held | Spa 154 |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Légion d'honneur, Médaille militaire, British Military Cross |
Michel Joseph Callixte Marie Coiffard (16 July 1892 – 29 October 1918) was one of the leading French flying aces of World War I. He was notable for his success as a balloon buster shooting down enemy observation balloons, which were usually heavily defended by anti-aircraft machine guns and artillery and by fighter planes. He scored 34 victories in his career.
Coiffard was born in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique on July 16, 1892 to Jean Coiffard and Mary Josephine Teresa de Laurent. He joined the army on November 16, 1910. The following year, he served against the Rifs in Morocco. He also served in Tunisia before World War I. He was wounded three times during his service in Africa, and awarded three citations while there. He was serving in an artillery unit when World War I began in 1914.
Repeatedly wounded and cited for courage under fire, Coiffard transferred to the infantry as a sergeant on August 29, 1914. On May 29, 1915, he earned the Medal Militaire for voluntarily braving heavy artillery fire to repair field phone lines between artillery and infantry units. He was finally declared unfit for ground combat because of a serious wound. Consequently, he joined the air service on January 4, 1917.
He completed flight training April 19, 1917 and joined Escadrille N.154 on June 28, 1917. He achieved his first victory on September 5. Coiffard scored two more successes in early 1918. This earned him the award of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur on February 2. The citation notes he was wounded four times as an infantryman.
However, not until the squadron transitioned in June from Nieuports to the sturdy SPAD series did he hit his stride. N.154 was re-designated Spa154 to mark the change in aircraft. Coiffard had his new craft's wheels and cowl painted red and dubbed his new Spad XIII 'Mado' after his girlfriend. He also began collaborating with squadron mates in concerted attacks on observation balloons. As a result, Spa154 would become the premier balloon busting squadron of the war, with over 70 claimed. However, the French system of awarding a victory to every pilot involved in a shoot-down blurs the actual count.
Lieutenant Coiffard succeeded to the task of squadron commander upon the wounding of Capitaine Lahoulle on July 15. In this capacity, he was admired as a trainer of his pilots; on one occasion, he sent a pilot on a month's leave to recuperate from combat fatigue.
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