Ernest Maunoury
Encyclopedia
Sous Lieutenant Ernest Joseph Jules Maunoury was a French flying ace
during World War I. He was credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories.
; this initial victory gained him another mention in dispatches, on 7 October.
On 27 January 1917, he was transferred to Escadrille 16. He began pilot's training at Dijon
on 20 March 1917, and was granted his Military Pilot's Brevet on 7 June 1917. He then joined a brand new squadron, Escadrille 152, as a Spad
pilot. On 30 June 1918, he scored his second victory, destroying a German observation balloon
. On 20 July, he shared a double win with Del Vial
. Then he began a string of seven consecutive victories shared with premium balloon buster
Léon Bourjade
. Double victories on 15 September and 1 October 1918 brought his tally to eight enemy observation balloons destroyed, along with two German reconnaissance planes and a Fokker.
on 21 September 1921. The subsequent impact was fatal.
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...
during World War I. He was credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories.
World War I
Manoury joined the French military on 7 September 1914, being assigned to the 24e Regiment d'Infanterie. On 19 February 1915, he was promoted to Sergent; not quite a year later, on 16 February 1916, he was mentioned in his brigade's orders. He was seriously wounded in action and offered the opportunity to transfer out of combat; however, he elected to volunteer for aviation duty. On 2 June 1916, he transferred to flying service. His first assignment was to Escadrille 64 as a gunner/observer. On 26 September 1916, he downed a FokkerFokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
; this initial victory gained him another mention in dispatches, on 7 October.
On 27 January 1917, he was transferred to Escadrille 16. He began pilot's training at Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
on 20 March 1917, and was granted his Military Pilot's Brevet on 7 June 1917. He then joined a brand new squadron, Escadrille 152, as 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:...
pilot. On 30 June 1918, he scored his second victory, destroying 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 20 July, he shared a double win with Del Vial
Del Vial
Sous Lieutenant Del Antoine Gaston Vial served in an artillery regiment from 1912 to 1913, when he transferred to aviation. He became a flying ace during World War I by scoring eight aerial victories.-Reference:...
. Then he began a string of seven consecutive victories shared with premium 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....
Léon Bourjade
Leon Bourjade
Léon Bourjade , born Jean-Pierre Léon Bourjade, was a leading French fighter pilot in World War I, notable for being his country's leading balloon busting ace...
. Double victories on 15 September and 1 October 1918 brought his tally to eight enemy observation balloons destroyed, along with two German reconnaissance planes and a Fokker.
Postwar
He lost a wing while flying over CazauxCazaux
Cazaux is a commune of the Ariège department in southwestern France....
on 21 September 1921. The subsequent impact was fatal.
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.