Armond J. Berthelot
Encyclopedia
Adjutant
Armond Jean Berthelot was a French World War I flying ace
credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories. He was a scourge to enemy aerial observers.
On 8 October 1912, Berthelot enlisted in the French military for three years. He first served in the 3eme Dragons. He was promoted to enlisted Brigadier
on 3 August 1913, and once more, to Maréchal-des-logis on 2 April 1915. On 5 November 1916, he entered pilot training; he earned Pilot's Brevet No. 5703, which was awarded him on 18 March 1917. His first aerial assignment, on 22 May 1917, was to Escadrille 365 in defense of Paris. Two months later, on 27 July, Berthelot was reassigned to Escadrille N15 ('N' denoting the unit's use of Nieuport
s.)
On 24 March 1918, he destroyed a German observation balloon
. On 12 April, he was again a balloon buster
, ruining one over Mezieres
. Upgraded to a Spad
, he started downing enemy observation planes: three in May, including a shared win with Bernard Artigau
; another on 6 June. Exactly a month later, he was awarded the Medaille Militaire; a prerequisite of the award was the Croix de Guerre, which he held with ten palmes and an etoile de bronze. On 14 August, he picked up his winning skein, shooting down a Rumpler
observation plane. Berthelot scored twice in September, then doubled on 9 October to finish the war with eleven victories.
On 25 April 1919, Armond Jean Berthelot was appointed a Chevalier in the Legion d'honneur.
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
Armond Jean Berthelot was a French World War I 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 eleven confirmed aerial victories. He was a scourge to enemy aerial observers.
On 8 October 1912, Berthelot enlisted in the French military for three years. He first served in the 3eme Dragons. He was promoted to enlisted Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
on 3 August 1913, and once more, to Maréchal-des-logis on 2 April 1915. On 5 November 1916, he entered pilot training; he earned Pilot's Brevet No. 5703, which was awarded him on 18 March 1917. His first aerial assignment, on 22 May 1917, was to Escadrille 365 in defense of Paris. Two months later, on 27 July, Berthelot was reassigned to Escadrille N15 ('N' denoting the unit's use of Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
s.)
On 24 March 1918, he destroyed a German observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
. On 12 April, he was again a balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
, ruining one over Mezieres
Mézières
Mézières can refer to:People*Jean-Claude Mézières, French comic book artist*Rob De Mezieres, South African writer and director*Nicolas Le Camus de Mézières , French architect and theoretician*Philippe de Mézières Mézières can refer to:People*Jean-Claude Mézières, French comic book artist*Rob De...
. 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:...
, he started downing enemy observation planes: three in May, including a shared win with Bernard Artigau
Bernard Artigau
Sous Lieutenant Bernard Artigau was a French World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories. He later became an airline pilot in South America, and returned to serve his nation again in World War II.-1916–1917:...
; another on 6 June. Exactly a month later, he was awarded the Medaille Militaire; a prerequisite of the award was the Croix de Guerre, which he held with ten palmes and an etoile de bronze. On 14 August, he picked up his winning skein, shooting down a Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
observation plane. Berthelot scored twice in September, then doubled on 9 October to finish the war with eleven victories.
On 25 April 1919, Armond Jean Berthelot was appointed a Chevalier in the Legion d'honneur.
Reference
- Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, 9780948817540.