Lieutenant Jean Marie Luc Gilbert Sardier (1897-1976) was a World War I
flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.
[The Aerodrome websit]
Retrieved 27 January 2010. He remained active in aviation following World War I. During World War II, he was deeply involved in a veterans organization that collaborated with the occupying Nazis.
Early life and entry into military
Jean Marie Luc Gilbert Sardier was born in
Riom
Riom (; Auvergnat ''Riam'') is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.
History
Until the French Revolution, Riom was the capital of the province of Auvergne, and the se ...
, France on 5 May 1897.
[''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 217]
On 8 September 1914, he volunteered to serve his country until war's end, and was accepted as a cavalryman. On 22 September 1915, he was posted to aviation's ''Escadrille 1''. On 22 February 1916, he began instruction to become a pilot. He received his Military Pilot's Brevet on 19 May 1916. On 10 June 1916, he was also breveted as an aerial observer.
[
Sardier joined '']Escadrille N.77
''Escadrille Spa.77'' (originally ''Escadrille N.77'') was a French fighter and photo reconnaissance squadron active from 1916 to 1918 during the First World War. They were credited with the destruction of 34 German airplanes and observation ball ...
'' at its inception, on 29 September 1916.[
]
Aerial service in World War I
His victory list began on 7 November 1916, with his second on 3 June 1917; his 1918 skein of 13 victories began 4 January and nearly ran to war's end. On one occasion, he shot down three Germans in a single day; another day, two fell to his guns. During this long run, he teamed with several other aces in scoring, including fellow aces Maurice Boyau, Laurent B. Ruamps
Adjutant Laurent Baptisti Ruamps (14 February 1897 – 27 July 1972) was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with ten confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.
Early life
On 14 February 1897, Laurent Baptisti Ruamps wa ...
, Francis Guerrier
Francis may refer to:
People
*Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome
*Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
*Francis (surname)
Places
*Rural Mu ...
, and Marcel Haegelen. Sardier was a balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness, as balloons were stationary targets able to receive heavy defenses, from the ground and the air. Seventy-seven fl ...
, with five 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 ...
s among his 15 triumphs.[
On 5 July 1918, he was appointed to lead the squadron. By war's end, he had flown 241 hours combat time with them.][
]
Interwar period
Sardier remained in aviation after war's end. He joined with Louis Chartoire to establish the Aero-Club d'Auvergne on 8 May 1920. In August 1922, he flew his triplane glider at a convention of experimental gliders that took place near his home. President of the club, he attended a Marseille-based national convention of aero clubs on 16 and 17 September 1932. One of the first French flying clubs, it still exists today.
World War II activities
During World War II, Sardier was head of the Clermont-Ferrand branch of Legion Française de Combattants, a veterans group founded on 30 August 1940. From its original role as a veterans aid society, the Legion slid into the role of siding with the Vichy Government installed by the occupying German Nazis. Although records are lacking, it seems that Sardier was one of the Legion officials who denounced fellow French citizens who espoused left wing
Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...
political views. Despite this, the occupying Germans not only would not share information about French citizens detained; they evicted Sardier from his home and housed a German colonel there.
Post World War II
Gilbert Sardier died on 7 October 1976.[
]
Honors and awards
* Chevalier of the '' Legion d'honneur'': 30 June 1918
* ''Officier'' of the Legion d'honneur'': 27 December 1918
* '' Médaille militaire'': 17 September 1917
* ''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 nine ''palmes'', an ''etoile de vermeil'', and one ''etoile de argent''
* American Distinguished Service Cross[The Hall of Valor Project websit]
Retrieved 27 January 2010.
* British Military Cross[
]
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. .
* Sweets, John F. (1994). ''Choices in Vichy France: The French Under Nazi Occupation.'' Oxford University Press. , .
External links
*
Biography, list of aerial victories, color profiles of his planes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sardier, Gilbert
French World War I flying aces
1976 deaths
1897 births
Knights of the Legion of Honour
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Recipients of the Military Cross
Glider pilots