Jean Seraphin Benjamin Emmanuel Bozon-Verduraz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 May 1889 Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines, France |
| Died | 21 June 1942 (aged 53) |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/ | Cavalry; aviation |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 4eme Regiment de Dragon, 9eme Regiment de Hussards, Escadrille 11, Escadrille 3 |
| Commands held | Escadrille 94 |
| Awards | Légion d'honneur , Médaille militaire , Croix de Guerre with 8 palmes, 2 étoiles de vermeil, and 1 étoile de bronze, Russian Cross of Saint George |
Lieutenant Jean Seraphin Benjamin Emmanuel Bozon-Verduraz was a French flying ace during World War I. A prewar soldier, he was recalled and switched from cavalry to aviation to achieve 11 confirmed aerial victories. [1]
Jean Seraphin Benjamin Emmanuel Bozon-Verduraz was born on 29 May 1889 in Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines, France. [1]
Bozon-Verduraz joined the French military on 1 October 1910. On 3 April 1911, he was promoted to enlisted Brigadier. On 25 September 1912, on the day he was released from duty, he was also promoted to Maréchal-des-logis. He was recalled to duty when World War I began. After a requested transfer to aviation, he went to Crotoy for pilot's training. After advanced training at Bourget, he received Pilot's Brevet No. 2437 on 19 January 1916. On 10 March, he was assigned to Escadrille C11 (the 'C' denoting the squadron's use of Caudrons). He was injured in an accident on 12 May 1916. He was promoted to Adjutant on 21 November 1916. [1]
On 28 May 1917, he went to fighter school; by 15 June, he was a Nieuport pilot with Escadrille 3. He was commissioned a Sous lieutenant on 11 July. [1]
Bozon-Verduraz scored his first aerial triumphs on 16, 17, and 20 February 1918. He was subsequently appointed a Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur on 5 April. He promptly tallied two more victories in April, becoming an ace on the 21st. After scoring thrice more in May, on 1 July he was appointed to command a Spad squadron, Escadrille 94. Subsequently, he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant on the 18th. Leading from the front, Bozon-Verduraz scored three more times with his new escadrille. He finished out his war with 11 confirmed victories scored in logging over 683 hours flight time. [1]
Légion d'Honneur
"Remarkable officer pilot; during two years, he has gained the admiration of the Army Corps Escadrille with which he served, carrying out the most arduous missions, never ceasing to seek battle with a joyous zeal. He downed, one after the other, three enemy planes in the space of four days. One wound. Three citations."
—Légion d'Honneur citation— [1]
Bozon-Verduraz also won the Médaille Militaire, [2] the Croix de guerre, [3] and the Russian Cross of Saint George. [1]
Sous Lieutenant Jean Pie Hyacinthe Paul Jerome Casale, was a French World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was one of the few aces that survived the entire course of fighter aviation in the war.
Sous lieutenantOmer Paul DemeuldreLégion d'honneur, Médaille militaire, Croix de Guerre, Mentioned in Dispatches was a World War I French flying ace credited with 13 aerial victories.
Sous Lieutenant Hector Eugene Joseph Garaud was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was one of the rare aces who survived the earliest era of fighter aviation.
Sous Lieutenant Marcel Joseph Maurice Nogues was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was an ace over enemy observation balloons, as well as enemy airplanes.
Sous Lieutenant Fernand Eugene Guyou was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.
Lieutenant Colonel Marcel Anatole Hugues was a French flying ace during World War I. He served before, during, and after the war, as he was a professional soldier. Later, he came out of retirement for World War II service and led Groupe de Chasse II/5 in its opening campaign against the invading Germans.
Sous Lieutenant Paul Yvan Robert Waddington was a French World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.
Adjutant Armond/Armand Jean Berthelot was a French World War I flying ace credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories. He was a scourge to enemy aerial observers, as his victory record contained six observation aircraft and two observation balloons.
Sous lieutenant Jean Georges Bouyer was a French World War I flying ace credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories.
Sous Lieutenant William Louis Max Herisson was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories.
Commandant Jacques Toussaint François Ortoli was a French Corsican patriot who served France in two World Wars. In World War I, he was a flying ace credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories. He returned to his nation's defense during World War II.
Adjutant Lucien Marcel Gasser was a French flying ace during World War I. He was a double ace, credited with ten confirmed aerial victories.
Sous lieutenantCharles Alfred Quette was a French World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed and five unconfirmed aerial victories.
Adjutant Laurent Baptisti Ruamps was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with ten confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.
Sous lieutenant Alexandre Albert Roger Bretillon was a French World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.
Sous lieutenant Louis Prosper Gros became a flying ace during World War I, scoring eight confirmed aerial victories, and possibly a ninth. He continued in aviation after the war, and defended his nation again during World War II.
Capitaine Georges Marcel Lachmann was a French World War I flying ace. He was credited with nine confirmed aerial victories.
Capitaine Jean Georges Fernand Matton was a World War I cavalryman and flying ace. He was credited with nine confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories.
Capitaine Henri Albert Péronneau was a World War I flying ace credited with nine confirmed aerial victories. He served his nation for more than four decades.
Lieutenant Julien Anatole Guertiau was a cavalryman turned aviator who became a flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories.