Omer Demeuldre

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Omer Paul Demeuldre
Born 8 March 1892
Cambrai, France
Died 3 May 1918
Allegiance France
Service/branch Aviation
Years of service 19121918
Rank Sous lieutenant
Unit Escadrille 63, Escadrille 84
Awards Légion d'honneur , Médaille militaire , Croix de Guerre , Mentioned in Dispatches four times

Sous lieutenantOmer Paul Demeuldre (8 March 18923 May 1918) Légion d'honneur , Médaille militaire , Croix de Guerre , Mentioned in Dispatches was a World War I French flying ace credited with 13 aerial victories.

Médaille militaire military decoration of the French Republic

The Médaille militaire is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, after the Légion d'honneur, a civil and military order, and the ordre de la Libération, a second world war-only order. The Médaille militaire is therefore the most senior entirely military active French decoration.

<i>Croix de Guerre</i> class of French military award

The Croix de Guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.

Flying ace Distinction given to fighter pilots

A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more.

Contents

Early life

Omer Paul Demeuldre was born on 8 March 1892 in Cambrai, France. [1]

Cambrai Subprefecture and commune in Hauts-de-France, France

Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department and in the Hauts-de-France region of France on the Scheldt river, which is known locally as the Escaut river.

World War I

Demeuldre joined the French military in 1912. At the start of World War I, he was an aviation mechanic. [2] He became an observer with Escadrille MF63, and on 7 September 1915, working the guns on a Maurice Farman, he scored his first victory. After two Mentions in Despatches, he was sent to pilot's training. He received Pilot's Brevet No. 4403 on 2 October 1916. Upon his return to his old unit as a pilot, he achieved his second win on 23 May 1917. In October 1917, he was reassigned to fly a Spad fighter with Escadrille 84. On the 30th of the month, he tallied his third triumph, which won him the Médaille militaire. Demeuldre racked three more wins in December, ending the year an ace with six victories. [1]

Demeuldre began 1918 with a victory on 3 January. He was commissioned as Sous Lieutenant on the 25th. On 3 February, he scored twice; he scored three times more in March. His final victory came on 14 April 1918, when he sent a German two-seater reconnaissance craft crashing down over Éplessier. [1]

Éplessier Commune in Hauts-de-France, France

Éplessier is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Death in action

On 3 May 1918, Omer Paul Demeuldre lost his final fight while shooting it out with a German two-seater. He was posthumously awarded the Légion d'honneur to add to the Médaille militaire and Croix de Guerre with seven palmes and two etoiles. [1]

Honors and awards

Text of award of Médaille militaire

Excellent noncommissioned officer. After having distinguished himself in reconnaissance and artillery spotting, he made a brilliant debut in pursuit aviation where he showed himself to be an audacious and capable pilot. On 30 October 1917, he downed his third plane which crashed in flames in the German lines. Four citations. [1]

Text of award of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur

"An exceptional pursuit pilot whose high morals, initiative, and bravery excite the admiration and emulation of his comrades in combat. He has downed thirteen enemy planes, ten of them in four months. On 3 May 1918, he fell in an all out battle during an attack at close quarters with an enemy two-seater, leaving behind the highest example of gallantry and young ardor." [2]

Endnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. pp. 145146.
  2. 1 2 The Aerodrome http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/demeuldre.php Retrieved on 11 July 2010.

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References