Julien Guertiau

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Julien Anatole Guertiau
Born13 September 1885
Meunet-Planches, France
Died26 April 1954(1954-04-26) (aged 68)
AllegianceFrance
Service/branchCavalry; aviation
RankLieutenant
Unit 7e Regiment de Hussards; Escadrille 43; Escadrille 97
Commands heldEscadrille 97
Awards Legion d'honneur , Medaille militaire , Croix de Guerre , Mentioned in dispatches
Other workServed in Indo-China in 1921

Lieutenant Julien Anatole Guertiau (13 September 1885 - 26 April 195) was a cavalryman turned aviator who became a flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories.

Contents

Early life and service

Julien Anatole Guertiau was born in Meunet-Planches, France on 13 September 1885. He reported for his mandatory military service in 1907. He was released from active duty as a non-commissioned officer. [1]

World War I

A double motored Caudron flying above the region of Reims (France) about 1917. Julien Guertiau used to fly with a similar aircraft. Caudron G.4 (5).jpg
A double motored Caudron flying above the region of Reims (France) about 1917. Julien Guertiau used to fly with a similar aircraft.

On 2 August 1914, he was mobilized from the reserves for military service in World War I. His initial assignment was to the 7e Regiment de Hussards. On 4 November 1915, he transferred to aviation service. After training at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, he received his military pilot's license, Brevet No. 3036, on 20 March 1916. [2]

After undergoing advanced training, on 23 June 1916 he was assigned to Escadrille C43 as a Caudron pilot. He scored his first aerial victory while flying this model two-seater on 29 September 1916; this win brought him his first mention in dispatches on 29 October. He was then promoted to Adjutant on 21 November 1916. [3]

Rather unusually, he would run his victory string while flying the unwieldy two-seater Caudron to four. His fourth victory, in which his plane was riddled by bullets as he engaged and shot down a German plane attacking a French observation balloon, earned him the Medaille Militaire. [4]

Following these successes, he was retrained as a fighter pilot, beginning on 5 November 1917. He was commissioned as a sous lieutenant on 23 November. On 6 December 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille 97 as a Spad pilot. He would score another four victories while with this squadron. On 9 September 1918, he was awarded the Legion d'honneur. On 25 September, he was promoted to lieutenant. On 3 October, he was appointed to command the squadron. [5]

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultNotes
129 September 1916 Caudron German airplaneDestroyed Mentioned in dispatches
228 April 1917CaudronGerman airplaneDestroyedMentioned in dispatches
330 May 1917CaudronGerman airplaneDestroyedMentioned in dispatches
425 June 1917CaudronGerman airplaneDestroyedMentioned in dispatches; won Medaille militaire
522 January 1918 Spad Observation balloon DestroyedMentioned in dispatches
612 April 1918SpadGerman airplaneDestroyed
728 August 1918SpadGerman airplaneDestroyedMentioned in dispatches
825 September 1918SpadGerman airplaneDestroyed [6] [7]

Post World War I

Guertiau went on to serve in French Indo-China in 1921. [8]

Guertiau remained interested in aviation after his return to France. He registered as part owner of a Guerchais-Roche T.12 under designation F-AIYL on 1 March 1929; his home of record was given as Etampes. [9]

Nothing more is known of Julien Anatole Guertiau except that he died on 26 April 1954. [10]

Endnotes

  1. Over the Front, p. 168.
  2. Over the Front, p. 168.
  3. Over the Front, p. 168.
  4. Over the Front, p. 169.
  5. Over the Front, p. 169.
  6. "Julien Anatole Guertiau". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  7. Over the Front, p. 169.
  8. "Julien Anatole Guertiau". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  9. "Civil Aircraft Register - France". Archived from the original on 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-03-18. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  10. "Julien Anatole Guertiau". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 23 November 2011.

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