''Capitaine'' Gabriel Joseph Thomas (born 4 January 1896, date of death unknown) was a 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 seven aerial victories.
[The Aerodrome website page on Thoma]
Retrieved 28 August 2020
Biography
See also
Aerial victory standards of World War I
Gabriel Joseph Thomas was born on 4 January 1896 in
Ligré, France.
[''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', pp. 221 - 222]
On 9 November 1914, Thomas enlisted in the French military for four years and was assigned to ''2e Groupe d'Aviation''. On 11 July 1915, he reported for pilot's training; on 5 October he graduated with his Military Pilot's Brevet. On 8 October, he received orders for ''Escadrille 98 T'' in the
Dardanelles. On 29 October, those orders were countermanded, and he was posted to ''Escadrille N.391'', which was attached to the ''
Armee d'Orient'' in the Middle East. He served with this squadron until he transferred back to ''2e Groupe d'Aviation'' in France on 8 July 1916. His Middle Eastern exploits were
Mentioned in dispatches
To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
on 16 October 1916.
[
On 8 May 1917, he was returned to combat, assigned to fly a Nieuport fighter with '' Escadrille N.88''. On 5 December 1917, he was provisionally appointed 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 12 April 1918, Thomas began to shoot down single German airplanes. His fifth victory came on 24 August. Then, on 2 September, Thomas was so severely wounded he was medically evacuated. While he was in hospital, on 24 September 1918, he was appointed to the '' Legion d'honneur'' as a Chevalier. He returned to his squadron in time to shoot down two more Germans, on 23 and 28 October 1918. Those were his last victories before the 11 November ceasefire.][
Thomas had ended the war with 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 ...
'' with five ''palmes'' and an ''etoile de vermeil'' to go with his ''Legion d'honneur''. His rank was confirmed on 25 October 1919, followed by promotion to Lieutenant on 26 September 1923.[
On 1 August 1928, he was raised to the post of ''Officier'' in the ''Legion d'honneur''. He was still in military service, as he was promoted to ''Capitaine'' in the reserves on 9 June 1937. Thomas' military service would continue until he was finally discharged on 4 January 1950.][
]
Sources of information
References
* 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.
1896 births
Year of death missing
French World War I flying aces
{{France-mil-bio-stub