Alfred Auger
Encyclopedia
Capitaine Alfred Victor Robert Auger was a World War I
flying ace
credited with seven aerial victories.
Auger began the war as an infantry officer; he was wounded in action on 31 August 1914. He transferred to flying service in 1915, only to be wounded again on 8 July. On 22 September 1915, he took command of 31 Escadrille. He scored twice in this assignment, on 13 March and 2 April 1916. Auger was seriously injured in a crash on 16 April. He recovered, and flew with Escadrille 3 to score again on 9 February 1917. A week later, he was wounded yet again, in a dogfight with four Germans. A month later, on 17 March 1917, Auger took command of Escadrille 3. He scored four more times, including a win shared with Joseph M. X. de Sévin
, with his last being 28 June 1917. Auger then upgraded to a Spad
. On 28 July, he took his Spad into a dogfight with five German planes, and was shot in the neck. Bleeding profusely, he somehow still managed to land behind friendly lines but bled to death within a few minutes. Jasta 8 seems to have been his opponent. Its commanding officer, Gustav Stenzel, was killed in this fight, with no one claiming him. Rudolf Francke
of Jasta 8 posted a claim that went unconfirmed, but was probably Auger.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with seven aerial victories.
Auger began the war as an infantry officer; he was wounded in action on 31 August 1914. He transferred to flying service in 1915, only to be wounded again on 8 July. On 22 September 1915, he took command of 31 Escadrille. He scored twice in this assignment, on 13 March and 2 April 1916. Auger was seriously injured in a crash on 16 April. He recovered, and flew with Escadrille 3 to score again on 9 February 1917. A week later, he was wounded yet again, in a dogfight with four Germans. A month later, on 17 March 1917, Auger took command of Escadrille 3. He scored four more times, including a win shared with Joseph M. X. de Sévin
Joseph M. X. de Sévin
Major General Joseph Marie Xavier de Sévin began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with twelve confirmed aerial victories, as well as thirteen unconfirmed ones. He rose to the rank of Major General while serving until World War II....
, with his last being 28 June 1917. Auger then upgraded to a Spad
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...
. On 28 July, he took his Spad into a dogfight with five German planes, and was shot in the neck. Bleeding profusely, he somehow still managed to land behind friendly lines but bled to death within a few minutes. Jasta 8 seems to have been his opponent. Its commanding officer, Gustav Stenzel, was killed in this fight, with no one claiming him. Rudolf Francke
Rudolf Francke
Lieutenant Rudolf Francke was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.He scored all his victories while with Royal Prussian Jagstaffel 8. His first win was on 3 June 1917; by 9 November of that year, his total stood at eight. After a five month lapse, he scored again on 1 April...
of Jasta 8 posted a claim that went unconfirmed, but was probably Auger.