Bernard Artigau
Encyclopedia
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.
s at Tours
and Avord
. He was promoted to Caporal on 23 March 1917. On 15 May, he received his Pilot's Brevet, No. 5894. He was assigned to Escadrille N15 (the 'N' denoting Nieuport
s) on 20 June. In August, he was promoted again, to Sergent. At 1540 hours 4 September 1917, Artigau scored his first win. On 1 November, he helped down a two-seater reconnaissance plane. On 23 December, he closed out 1917 by sharing victory over another German two-seater with Gabriel Guérin
.
for Artigau came in March. Artigau then tallied back to back triumphs on 11 and 12 April. He split two victories in May–one on the 15th with Andre Barcat
and the other on the 27th with Armond J. Berthelot
. June brought him wins on the 1st and 7th, and the Medaille Militaire on the 25th. His eleventh victory came on 22 July, when he shot down a Rumpler
. In October 1918, he was commissioned Sous Lieutenant. On the 28th of the month, he shot down a Fokker D.VII
for his final win.
"Non-commissioned officer driven by the highest spirit and devotion, which he has rapidly revealed during the course of difficult combats, and daily as a pursuit pilot full of bravery, endurance and skill. He recently downed in our lines, an enemy two-seater, reporting therewith his eighth victory. Three citations."
Text of citation for Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
"Pursuit pilot beyond compare, on 28 October 1918 he reported his eleventh victory. Médaille Militaire for feats of war -- six citations."
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 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
Artigau was living in Argentina when World War I started. He was called up to active duty on 26 May 1916, and assigned to the 144eme Regiment d'Infanterie as an enlisted Soldat de 2e Classe. He requested pilot's duty, and was sent for training on CaudronCaudron
The Caudron Airplane Company was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 by brothers Gaston Caudron and René Caudron . It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for the military in both World War I and World War II...
s at Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
and Avord
Avord
Avord is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A farming area comprising the village and several hamlets situated by the banks of the river Yèvre, some east of Bourges at the junction of the D976 with the D36 and the D71 roads...
. He was promoted to Caporal on 23 March 1917. On 15 May, he received his Pilot's Brevet, No. 5894. He was assigned to Escadrille N15 (the 'N' denoting 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 20 June. In August, he was promoted again, to Sergent. At 1540 hours 4 September 1917, Artigau scored his first win. On 1 November, he helped down a two-seater reconnaissance plane. On 23 December, he closed out 1917 by sharing victory over another German two-seater with Gabriel Guérin
Gabriel Guerin
Sous Lieutenant Gabriel Fernand Charles Guérin , Legion d'Honneur, Medaille Militaire, Croix de Guerre, was a World War I fighter pilot credited with 23 victories.-Citations for military decorations:Médaille Militaire...
.
1918
On 3 February 1918, Artigau again teamed with Guérin to down an enemy plane over Nogent l'Abbesse. A promotion to AdjutantAdjutant
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...
for Artigau came in March. Artigau then tallied back to back triumphs on 11 and 12 April. He split two victories in May–one on the 15th with Andre Barcat
Andre Barcat
Sous Lieutenant Andre Jean Louis Barcat was a World War I fighter ace credited with five aerial victories.-Honors and awards:Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur...
and the other on the 27th with Armond J. Berthelot
Armond J. Berthelot
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....
. June brought him wins on the 1st and 7th, and the Medaille Militaire on the 25th. His eleventh victory came on 22 July, when he shot 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...
. In October 1918, he was commissioned Sous Lieutenant. On the 28th of the month, he shot down a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
for his final win.
Post World War I
Artigau returned to Argentina with 444 hours in his pilot's logbook, wearing not just the Medaille Militaire, but both French and Belgian Croix de Guerres. He would receive the Legion d'Honneur on 25 April 1919. He became a pioneering commercial pilot during the between-wars period. When World War II began, he was once again called up to his country's aid. Once World War II ended, Artigau went home to Buenos Aires. He died there on 3 May 1968.Honors and awards
Text of citation for Médaille Militaire"Non-commissioned officer driven by the highest spirit and devotion, which he has rapidly revealed during the course of difficult combats, and daily as a pursuit pilot full of bravery, endurance and skill. He recently downed in our lines, an enemy two-seater, reporting therewith his eighth victory. Three citations."
Text of citation for Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
"Pursuit pilot beyond compare, on 28 October 1918 he reported his eleventh victory. Médaille Militaire for feats of war -- six citations."
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.