Capitaine Gustav Douchy (1893-1943) was a French military officer who served in both World Wars. He was a

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 ...

in World War I, credited with nine confirmed aerial victories.

Early life

Gustav Douchy was born on 14 May 1893 in Bondy.

World War I

Gustav Douchy was conscripted on 27 November 1913. He was assigned to aviation, and passed through two different units before being stationed at Nancy as an aircraft mechanic on 29 January 1914. On 11 May 1915, he began pilot's 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 t ...

. On 15 July, he received his Military Pilot's Brevet. On 28 August 1915, he was promoted to

Corporal Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non ...

. On 24 October 1915, he was assigned to Escadrille 38. On 12 November 1915, he received Pilot's Brevet No. 2514. On 21 February 1916, he was promoted to

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

. On 25 July 1916, Douchy scored his first German two-seater reconnaissance aircraft, followed on 23 August 1916 by an Albatros aircraft. The two victories were instrumental in winning him the Médaille militaire, which was awarded 24 September. On 21 November 1916, he was promoted yet again, 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 ...

. On 22 January 1917, Douchy resumed scoring, downing an Albatros two-seater near Navarin. He accumulated wins one at a time until 4 September 1917, when he tallied his eighth victory. On 19 October 1917, he was awarded the Légion d'honneur. On 6 March 1918, Douchy scored his last confirmed victory. Twenty days later, he was then withdrawn from combat, and assigned test pilot duty.

Post World War I

On 23 August 1925, Douchy was elevated to Officer in the Légion d'honneur; eventually, he rose to

Commandeur Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

. On 1 February 1942, during World War II, he was promoted to Capitaine. On 29 July 1943, he died as the result of an accident while he was in Madagascar.

Notes

References

* ''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:Douchy, Gustave 1893 births 1943 deaths Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France) French World War I flying aces Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur French military personnel killed in World War II