Captain Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau (16 September 1894 – 2 June 1976) was an Algerian-born French World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.

Early life

Barbreau was born in Renault,

Oran Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...

, Algeria, the son of Pierre Augustin Barbreau, an ''administrateur-adjoint'', and Marie Louise Benoist. He joined the French Army on his twentieth birthday, 16 September 1914. His initial assignment was as a '' Soldat de 2e Classe'' in the ''5e Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique''. He was promoted to the rank of enlisted '' brigadier'' in November 1914, and to '' maréchal-des-logis'' on 6 February 1915.

World War I aviation service

Barbreau transferred to the army's military aviation branch in April 1917, reporting to Amberieu for pilot's training. On 14 May, he received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 6406. On 1 June, he passed on to Avord for advanced training. After polishing his skills at Pau and

Cazaux Cazaux () is a commune of the Ariège department in southwestern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in t ...

, he was posted to a Nieuport squadron, '' Escadrille N 154'', on 1 October 1917.Note: When a French squadron upgraded its equipment, it eventually changed its unit designation to reflect the new equipment. Thus, Barbreau originally flew in Nieuports. The squadron eventually upgraded its equipment to SPAD S.VII fighters, and subsequently changed its name to ''

Escadrille SPA 154 A flight is a small military unit within the larger structure of an air force, naval air service, or army air corps; and is usually subservient of a larger squadron. A military aircraft flight is typically composed of four aircraft, though ...

''. Under the command of Michel Coiffard ''SPA 154'' specialized in attacking enemy

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, with Barbreau sharing their success, as he became 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 ...

, destroying eight between 2 June and 8 August 1918. His victories brought him the '' Médaille militaire'' and a temporary commission as an officer. He was transferred to ''Escadrille 164'' on 8 August 1918.

List of aerial victories

Barbreau is believed to have flown some version of the SPAD to score his aerial victories.

Post World War I

Although his heroics ended at the ceasefire of 11 November 1918, he was not made a ''Chevalier'' of the '' Légion d'honneur'' until 12 July 1919, while serving as a second lieutenant (reserve) in Algeria. The accompanying citation mentioned victories over five enemy aircraft, but there is no individual listing or confirmation of these victories. He eventually retired from the French Air Force with the rank of captain, receiving promotion to the rank of ''Officier'' of the ''Légion d'honneur'' on 31 October 1961. He died in Marseilles on 2 June 1976.

Footnotes

References

Notes Bibliography * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Barbreau, Paul 1894 births 1976 deaths People from Oran Province French World War I flying aces Officers of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Recipients of the Médaille militaire (France) Emigrants from French Algeria to France