Sous lieutenant Georges Charles Marie François Flachaire (24 October 1892—30 April 1973) 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 eight aerial victories. On 1 September 1939, he returned to French military service, to serve past the end of World War II.

Early life

Georges Charles Marie François Flachaire was born in

Grasse Grasse (; Provençal dialect, Provençal oc, Grassa in classical norm or in Mistralian norm ; traditional it, Grassa) is the only Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in the Provence- ...

, France on 24 October 1892. He was recalled to military service when World War I began.''Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918'', pp. 159–160.

World War I

Flachaire joined the artillery in 1914. He soon volunteered for aviation, transferring on 31 December 1914. On 15 January 1915, he was assigned to Escadrille 105. On 10 May 1915, Flachaire departed for initial aviation training at

Avord Avord () is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. Geography A farming area comprising the village and several hamlets situated by the banks of the river Yèvre, some east of Bourges at the junction of ...

. Promotions followed, as he moved through the phases of pilot's training. He received his pilot's brevet, No. 957, on 31 August 1915. Georges Fléchère, aviateur

Flachaire was posted to Escadrille 67 on 1 September 1915. He piloted two-seater

Nieuport Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars. History Beginnings Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...

s until the new single-seated fighters showed up. On 20 December 1915, he was promoted to '' Marechal-des-logis''. He then scored his first triumph on 30 April 1916, earning the ''

Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) 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, ...

'' by his actions.''Nieuport Aces of World War I'', pp. 58–59. His next victory, on 28 July 1916, was shared with

Georges Lachmann Capitaine Georges Marcel Lachmann was a French World War I flying ace. He was credited with nine confirmed aerial victories. World War I On 21 July 1914, Georges Marcel Lachman was awarded the civil pilot's license he had earned. On 2 August 1914 ...

and

Jean Matton Capitaine Jean Georges Fernand Matton was a French World War I cavalryman and flying ace. He was credited with nine confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories. Biography Early life Jean Georges Fernand Matton was born in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés ...

. He scored once in September, three times in October, and notched his seventh on 23 November 1916.The Aerodrome websit

Retrieved on 28 March 2010. He was awarded the British

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

on 8 May 1917. He scored one last win on 17 August 1917. With a temporary promotion to ''Sous lieutenant'', Flachaire was sent to the United States as part of a French military mission in October 1917. The war would end before his return.

Post World War I

Flachaire would return to his nation's military service at the beginning of World War II, on 1 September 1939. He would serve until his release from the reserves on 24 October 1945. He retired to

Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...

, Venezuela, and died there on 30 October 1973.

Honors and awards

Médaille militaire
(Per Ordre No. 2891 D of 10 May 1916)
"On 30 April 1916, he attacked an enemy plane that was bombing our positions. After a serious combat during which he ran out of ammunition and fuel, he manoeuvred so adroitly that he forced his adversary to land in our lines where the pilot and observer were made prisoners. Already cited in Orders." Légion d'honneur
(Per Ordre No. 4090 D of 18 November 1916)
"Remarkable pilot of skill, courage and audacity, which he displayed during recent operations, during the course of which he provided the most highly conspicuous services. On 20 and 21 October 1916, he downed, in the most brilliant fashion, his fourth and fifth enemy planes. The first in our lines and the second in the German Lines. Médaille militaire and cited in orders three times."

Sources of information

References

* ''Nieuport Aces of World War 1.'' Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. , . * ''Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918''. Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. , . {{DEFAULTSORT:Flachaire, Georges 1892 births 1973 deaths French World War I flying aces