Aspirant Jean Charles Augustin Dubois de Gennes (16 February 1895 – 17 September 1929) 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 five aerial victories. He was wounded three times in defense of his country.
[The Aerodrome websit]
Retrieved 6 August 2020
Biography
Jean Charles Augustin Dubois de Gennes was born on 16 February 1895 in
Desvres
Desvres (; pcd, Dèfes; vls, Deveren) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is a market town, known for its pottery. In 2018 its population was 4,930 inhabitants. It is the seat of the canton of Desvres.
Populati ...
, France. He volunteered for military service on 25 September 1914. He would serve as an artilleryman for the first few months of war, passing through the enlisted ranks while serving in three successive artillery regiments. He was appointed as an
Aspirant on 1 March 1915. He was severely wounded on 8 February 1916, not returning to duty until 7 June 1916.
[''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 155]
He went for aviation training on 15 September 1916. He graduated with his Military Pilot's Brevet on 25 March 1917. After advanced training, he was posted to ''Escadrille 57'' on 25 April 1917. On 7 May he was wounded again; he returned to duty on 1 October 1917. He scored his first aerial victory later that month, on the 21st. Between 19 January and 12 April 1918, he shot down three more German airplanes. On 2 May 1918, he was awarded 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, ...
''. On the 30th, he shot down an
observation balloon for his last victory. On the 31st, he was wounded again. On 2 June 1918, he was temporarily promoted to ''
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 ...
''. He had also won the ''
Croix de Guerre'' with four ''palmes'' and an ''etoile d'argent''.
[
Dubois de Gennes would be inducted into the '']Legion d'honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...
'' in 1925. He was lost at sea on 17 September 1929 while flying air mail.[
]
Endnotes
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. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dubois De Gennes, Jean
1895 births
1929 deaths
French World War I flying aces