''Capitaine'' Pierre Armand Wertheim, alias Pierre Armand Wertheimer, (17 March 1888 – 30 April 1971) was a French

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

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.The Aerodrome website page on Werthei

Retrieved on 10 September 2020

Biography

See also

Aerial victory standards of World War I Aerial may refer to: Music * ''Aerial'' (album), by Kate Bush * ''Aerials'' (song), from the album ''Toxicity'' by System of a Down Bands *Aerial (Canadian band) * Aerial (Scottish band) * Aerial (Swedish band) Performance art * Aerial sil ...

Pierre Armand Wertheim was born on 17 March 1888 in Paris.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 227 He began his required military service on 7 October 1909, becoming an infantryman. On 24 September 1911, he was released to reserve duty. The start of World War I saw him recalled to duty. However, on 8 August 1914, he went to hospital. He returned to his regiment in a few days, being tasked as a machine gunner. He served in that role until 30 March 1916, when he was sent for pilot training. Wertheim graduated primary training with his Military Pilot's Brevet on 9 September 1916. After advanced training, he was posted to '' Escadrille N.84'' on 3 February 1917. On 5 December 1917, he was raised from the

enlisted rank An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States m ...

s to the rank of temporary ''

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 ...

''. Wertheim shot down a German two-seated airplane with his SPAD on 16 February 1918, then downed a couple of

Fokker Dr.1 The Fokker Dr.I (''Dreidecker'', "triplane" in German), often known simply as the Fokker Triplane, was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918. It became famous as the ...

triplanes on 31 March. On 20 April, he became a permanent ''Sous lieutenant''. The next day, he teamed with Lieutenant

Jean Chaput Lieutenant Jean Chaput was a French World War I flying ace credited with 16 aerial victories. Biography Jean Marc Chaput was born on 17 September 1893 in Paris.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United Sta ...

to down a Pfalz D.III fighter for a fourth victory. On 3 August 1918, Wertheim was 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 ...

''. On the 28th, he was given command of his squadron, which had been outfitted with SPADs to become ''Escadrille Spa.84''. On 9 September 1918, he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant. On 10 October 1918, he managed the highly hazardous task of destroying an

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 ...

, to become an

ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...

. Pierre Wertheim also served during World War II in the rank of ''Capitaine''.

Honors and awards

* Chevalier of the ''

'' awarded 3 August 1918 * Appointed Officer of the ''Legion d'honneur'' on 24 December 1936 * Decreed Commander of the ''Legion d'honneur'' on 13 July 1961 * ''

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 four ''palmes'' and three ''etoiles de vermeil''The Aerodrome website page on the ''Croix de guerre'

Retrieved on 10 September 2020

End notes

Reference

* Norman Franks, 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. 1888 births 1971 deaths French World War I flying aces {{France-mil-bio-stub