Chief adjutant François Paul Delzenne was a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

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 seven aerial victories.The Aerodrome websit

Retrieved 4 August 2020

Biography

François Paul Delzenne was born in

Coutiches Coutiches () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department The following is a list of the 648 communes of the Nord department of the French Republic. The communes cooperate in ...

, France on 16 March 1887. He entered military service on 1 October 1908. He rose through the enlisted ranks as he was assigned and reassigned in various artillery regiments until the beginning of hostilities for World War I. He began his war as a cannoneer.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 144 On 8 December 1915, he was sent to pilot's training. He received his Military Pilot's Brevet in April 1916. On 1 July, he 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 ...

. His record was blank until 1 January 1918, when he was promoted to Adjutant chef. In February 1918, he received advanced pilot training for fighters. He was then posted to ''Escadrille 88'' on 13 May 1918. On 27 June, he shot down a German

observation balloon An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War ...

. Between 23 August and 29 October 1918, he shot down six enemy airplanes. He ended the war having garnered the '' Médaille Militaire'' and the ''

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 ...

''. He remained in service postwar, being commissioned 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 ...

'' on 16 February 1919. On 6 July 1919, he was granted entry into the '' Legion d'honneur''.

Endnotes

References

Military file on French DoD website
* * Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). ''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'' London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. . 1887 births 1962 deaths French World War I flying aces Recipients of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) {{france-mil-bio-stub