''Sous lieutenant'' Omer Paul Demeuldre (8 March 1892—3 May 1918) ''
Légion d'honneur'', ''
Médaille militaire'', ''
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 ...
'',
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 ...
was a World War I French
flying ace credited with 13 aerial victories.
Early life
Omer Paul Demeuldre was born on 8 March 1892 in
Cambrai
Cambrai (, ; pcd, Kimbré; nl, Kamerijk), formerly Cambray and historically in English Camerick or Camericke, is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department and in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, regio ...
, France.
[
]
World War I
Demeuldre joined the French military in 1912. At the start of World War I, he was an aviation mechanic.[The Aerodrome http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/demeuldre.php Retrieved on 11 July 2010.] He became an observer with Escadrille MF63, and on 7 September 1915, working the guns on a Maurice Farman, he scored his first victory. After two Mentions in Despatches
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 ...
, he was sent to pilot's training. He received Pilot's Brevet No. 4403 on 2 October 1916. Upon his return to his old unit as a pilot, he achieved his second win on 23 May 1917. In October 1917, he was reassigned to fly a Spad fighter with Escadrille 84
''Escadrille Spa.84'' (originally ''Escadrille N.84'') was a French fighter squadron active in World War I during 1917 and 1918. They were credited with destroying 24 German airplanes and one observation balloon.
History
''Escadrille Spa.84'' w ...
. On the 30th of the month, he tallied his third triumph, which won him the Médaille militaire. Demeuldre racked three more wins in December, ending the year an ace with six victories.Éplessier
Éplessier () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Geography
Éplessier is situated on the D189 road, some west-southwest of Amiens.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Somme department
The following ...
.[
]
Death in action
On 3 May 1918, Omer Paul Demeuldre lost his final fight while shooting it out with a German two-seater. He was posthumously awarded the ''Légion d'honneur'' to add to the ''Médaille militaire'' and ''Croix de Guerre'' with seven palmes and two etoiles.[
]
Honors and awards
Text of award of Médaille militaire
Excellent noncommissioned officer. After having distinguished himself in reconnaissance and artillery spotting, he made a brilliant debut in pursuit aviation where he showed himself to be an audacious and capable pilot. On 30 October 1917, he downed his third plane which crashed in flames in the German lines. Four citations.[
Text of award of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur
"An exceptional pursuit pilot whose high morals, initiative, and bravery excite the admiration and emulation of his comrades in combat. He has downed thirteen enemy planes, ten of them in four months. On 3 May 1918, he fell in an all out battle during an attack at close quarters with an enemy two-seater, leaving behind the highest example of gallantry and young ardor."][
]
Endnotes
References
* Franks, Norman and Frank Bailey (1992).''Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918'' Grub Street. , .
External links
Biography, list of aerial victories, color profiles of his planes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demeuldre, Omer
1892 births
1918 deaths
French flying aces
French military personnel killed in World War I