''Sous Lieutenant'' Constant Emmanuel Plessis was a French World War I

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

credited with five aerial victories.The Aerodrome websit

Retrieved 6 January 2018.

Early life

Constant Emmanuel Plessis was born in Angers, France on 11 November 1890.Franks, Bailey, p. 208.

Military service

Pre-aviation service

Plessis began his mandated military training as an enlisted soldier on 2 November 1911, and left that active duty on 8 November 1913. With the advent of World War I, he was recalled to active military service on 2 August 1914. On 18 January 1915, he was transferred into the first of two infantry units he would serve in before departing front line duty on 15 May 1915. He returned to the front lines on 15 August 1915, posting unspecified. On 30 May 1916, Plessis attained the rank of

Brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...

. On 15 August 1916, he reported for pilot training.

Aviation service

Plessis was granted his Pilot's Brevet on 13 December 1916, and was passed on for advanced training. Once trained, he was posted to '' Escadrille N.88'' on 2 March 1917. Promotion to Maréchal-des-logis followed on 25 June. On 17 August 1917, Plessis made two forays across the German lines, downing a German aircraft each time. On 27 September, he was awarded the Médaille militaire for the day's actions: "Non-commissioned officer of great bravery and deliberate audacity. On 17 August 1917, by crossing the German lines to attack successively two groups of enemy planes, he downed his adversary each time. One citation." On 1 January 1918, Plessis was promoted to

Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

, and on the 26th temporarily commissioned as a ''

Sous lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 19 ...

''. Beginning on 30 May 1918, he would score four more aerial victories, and be awarded the '' Legion d'honneur'', as follows: "Remarkable pilot. Elite officer. For more than two years in aviation he has become a superb example of bravery and absolute disdain for danger in any shape or form. Has flown 500 hours against the enemy and has had more than 100 combats, during the course of which he has downed one

balloon A balloon is a flexible bag that can be inflated with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, and air. For special tasks, balloons can be filled with smoke, liquid water, granular media (e.g. sand, flour or rice), or light so ...

and five German planes. He particularly distinguished himself in the course of his last operations by strafing enemy emplacements from low altitude, and making long distant reconnaissances which allowed him to provide the commandant with valuable information. One wound. Médaille Militaire for feats of war. Four citations."

Postwar career

Constant Plessis was again mustered into the reserves, on 13 August 1919. On 4 May 1920, he was promoted to

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

. On 1 June 1930, Constant Emmanuel Plessis died in an aviation accident while aboard a

Caudron C.60 The Caudron C.60 was a French two-seat biplane of the 1920s and 1930s with a single Piston engine, engine and a canvas-covered fuselage. The French aircraft manufacturer Caudron developed this aircraft from the Caudron C.59. It was mainly used as ...

Decorations and awards

* ''Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur'': 28 October 1918 * ''Médaille Militaire'': 27 September 1917 * French ''

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') 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 first awa ...

'' with six ''palmes''. * Belgian ''Croix de guerre''

Endnotes

Bibliography

* Franks, Norman and Frank Bailey (2008). ''OVER THE FRONT: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 ''. Grub Street Publishing. {{DEFAULTSORT:Plessis, Constant 1890 births 1930 deaths French World War I flying aces