Fernand Henri Chavannes | |
---|---|
Born | Paris, France | April 16, 1897
Died | October 5, 1985 88) | (aged
Allegiance | France |
Service/ | Aviation |
Rank | Sous lieutenant |
Unit | Escadrille 176, Escadrille 112 |
Awards | Légion d'honneur Médaille militaire Croix de Guerre |
Sous Lieutenant Fernand Henri Chavannes (1897-1985) was a French World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. [1]
Fernand Henri Chavannes was the son of renowned sinologist and Chinese scholar Édouard Chavannes. [2] The younger Chavannes was born on 16 April 1897 in Paris. He began his military service on 12 January 1916; on 29 February, he went for pilot training. On 21 December 1916, he received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 5074. After advanced training, he was posted to Escadrille 112 on 24 April 1917. [3] Chavannes and his friend Lionel de Marmier were chosen to share a new "cannon Spad", the SPAD XII, when it came out in mid-1917. The letters "M" and "C", representing their last names, were intertwined in paint on the side of its fuselage. [4]
Chavannes's string of seven confirmed victories began on 8 February 1918. After his fifth victory, he was commissioned as a temporary Sous lieutenant on 1 April 1918. He ended the war with seven victories. [3]
"Pursuit pilot of exceptional audacity and skill. Entitled to eight citations and seven victories." Légion d'Honneur citation [1]
"First class pursuit pilot, courageous and with accomplished skill. He reported his fourth victory by attacking an enemy two-seater and forcing it to land behind our lines." Médaille Militaire citation, 13 April 1918 [1]
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