Georges Lachmann
Encyclopedia
Capitaine Georges Marcel Lachmann was a French World War I flying ace
. He was credited with nine confirmed aerial victories.
He was first assigned to Escadrille 27; it was while he was with them he flew his first war mission, on 31 August. In January 1915, he was transferred to Escadrille 15, which was also operating Robert Esnault-Pelterie
K-80 airplanes. On 8 March 1915, he was promoted to Adjutant
. A month later, he was retrained on different airplanes. On 26 May 1915, he continued his peripatetic career by being posted to Escadrille 57 on the Western Front
in France. On 31 July 1915, he was commissioned as a Sous lieutenant. On 13 August 1915, he was transferred to Escadrille 92 on the Italian Front
. At first, he was only one of three pilots and three observers assigned to fly Nieuport 10
s in defense of Venice, though later Escadrille 92 gained three more pilots. He was a major participant in the hour's air combat of 15 October 1915 that discouraged further Austro-Hungarian raids on the city.
On 24 March 1916, he returned to the Western Front and Escadrille 57. On 15 July 1916, Lachmann scored his first aerial victory, using a Nieuport
to destroy an enemy observation balloon
over Ham
. On 28 July, he teamed with Georges Flachaire
and Jean Matton
to share in a win over an Albatros two-seater observation plane. On 12 August 1916, Lachmann downed another foe.
Georges Marcel Lachmann was inducted into the Legion d'honneur on 6 January 1917. On 21 March 1917, Lachmann was posted to the Russian Front
to serve in Escadrille 581 as a Spad
pilot. He was wounded in action
on 26 June 1917. On 8 July 1917, he assumed command of the squadron. During September and October 1917, he scored six victories, three over enemy airplanes and three as a balloon buster
. On 24 December 1917, he was promoted to Lieutenant.
On 7 January 1918, Lachmann's command expanded to include a second squadron, Escadrille 406. In February 1918, he was withdrawn from Russia. In April, he was posted as an advisor to the Military Attache
in Leghorn, Italy. In August, he returned to Russia; in November, he was back in France.
He died at Tonnerre on 12 August 1961.
Medaille Militaire
Croix de guerre with ten palmes
Croce di Guerra
(Italy)
Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Knight of the Order of Saint George (Russia)
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...
. He was credited with nine confirmed aerial victories.
World War I
On 21 July 1914, Georges Marcel Lachman was awarded the civil pilot's license he had earned. On 2 August 1914, as France began World War I, Sergent Lachmann reported to duty with the 2eme Group d'Aviation and received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 499. He would be one of the rare aces who began and ended World War I with aviation, and he served on all major fronts of the war.He was first assigned to Escadrille 27; it was while he was with them he flew his first war mission, on 31 August. In January 1915, he was transferred to Escadrille 15, which was also operating Robert Esnault-Pelterie
Robert Esnault-Pelterie
Robert Albert Charles Esnault-Pelterie was a pioneering French aircraft designer and spaceflight theorist. He was born in Paris, the son of a textile industrialist...
K-80 airplanes. On 8 March 1915, he was promoted to Adjutant
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...
. A month later, he was retrained on different airplanes. On 26 May 1915, he continued his peripatetic career by being posted to Escadrille 57 on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in France. On 31 July 1915, he was commissioned as a Sous lieutenant. On 13 August 1915, he was transferred to Escadrille 92 on the Italian Front
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
. At first, he was only one of three pilots and three observers assigned to fly Nieuport 10
Nieuport 10
|-See also:- External links :* *...
s in defense of Venice, though later Escadrille 92 gained three more pilots. He was a major participant in the hour's air combat of 15 October 1915 that discouraged further Austro-Hungarian raids on the city.
On 24 March 1916, he returned to the Western Front and Escadrille 57. On 15 July 1916, Lachmann scored his first aerial victory, using a 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:...
to destroy an enemy 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....
over Ham
Ham, Somme
Ham is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Ham is situated on the D930 and D937 crossroads, some southwest of Saint-Quentin, in the far southeast of the department, near the border with the department of the Aisne....
. On 28 July, he teamed with Georges Flachaire
Georges Flachaire
Sous lieutenant Georges Charles Marie François Flachaire was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.Flachaire joined the artillery in 1914. He soon volunteered for aviation. He was posted to Escadrille 67 on 1 September 1915. He piloted two-seater Nieuports until the new...
and Jean Matton
Jean Matton
Capitaine Jean Georges Fernand Matton was a World War I cavalryman and flying ace. He was credited with nine confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories....
to share in a win over an Albatros two-seater observation plane. On 12 August 1916, Lachmann downed another foe.
Georges Marcel Lachmann was inducted into the Legion d'honneur on 6 January 1917. On 21 March 1917, Lachmann was posted to the Russian Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
to serve in Escadrille 581 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. He was wounded in action
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
on 26 June 1917. On 8 July 1917, he assumed command of the squadron. During September and October 1917, he scored six victories, three over enemy airplanes and three as 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....
. On 24 December 1917, he was promoted to Lieutenant.
On 7 January 1918, Lachmann's command expanded to include a second squadron, Escadrille 406. In February 1918, he was withdrawn from Russia. In April, he was posted as an advisor to the Military Attache
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in Leghorn, Italy. In August, he returned to Russia; in November, he was back in France.
Post World War I
Lachmann went to Africa, and spent some time surveying landing fields.He died at Tonnerre on 12 August 1961.
Honours and awards
Legion d'honneurLégion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
Medaille Militaire
Médaille militaire
The Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
Croix de guerre with ten palmes
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre 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 awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
Croce di Guerra
Croce di Guerra
The Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare is an Italian decoration for military valour.- Past recipients :* Edouard Izac, Lieutenant, United States Navy* Douglas MacArthur, General, United States Army...
(Italy)
Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Order of the Crown of Italy
The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
Knight of the Order of Saint George (Russia)
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/lachmann.php lists his victories
- http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-US&dl=en&lp=FR_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2falbindenis.free.fr%2fSite_escadrille%2fescadrille004.htm has an excellent photo of Lachmann three-quarters of the way down the "page"
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.