Lieutenant Jean Marie Luc Gilbert Sardier was a 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 15 aerial victories. He remained active in aviation following World War I. During World War II, he was deeply involved in a veterans organization that collaborated with the occupying Nazis.

Service in World War I

His victory list began on 7 November 1916, as a member of the "Les Sportifs" of Escadrille 77, and nearly ran to war's end. During this long run, he teamed with several other aces in scoring, including fellow aces Maurice Boyau

Maurice Boyau

Maurice Jean-Paul Boyau was a French rugby union player and a leading French ace of the First World War with 35 victories, and one of the most successful balloon busters...

, Laurent B. Ruamps

Laurent B. Ruamps

Adjutant Laurent Baptisti Ruamps was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with ten confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.-1916:...

, Francis Guerrier, and Marcel Haegelen. He was 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....

, with five observation Drachen among his 15 triumphs.

Interwar period

Sardier remained in aviation after war's end. He joined with Louis Chartoire to establish the Aero-Club d'Auvergne on 8 May 1920. In August 1922, he flew his triplane glider at a convention of experimental gliders that took place near his home. President of the club, he attended a Marseille-based national convention of aero clubs on 16 and 17 September 1932. One of the first French flying clubs, it still exists today.

World War II activities

During World War II, Sardier was head of the Clermont-Ferrand branch of Legion Francaise de Combattants, a veterans group founded on 30 August 1940. From its original role as a veterans aid society, the Legion slid into the role of siding with the Vichy Government installed by the occupying German Nazis. Although records are lacking, it seems that Sardier was one of the Legion officials who denounced fellow French citizens who espoused left wing political views. Despite this, the occupying Germans not only would not share information about French citizens detained; they evicted Sardier from his home and housed a German colonel there.

Honors and awards

Distinguished Service Cross

Awarded for actions during World War I

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant of Air Service Gilbert J. M. L. Sardier, French Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Pilot, French Air Service, near Mesnil-St. Firmin, France, 15 May 1918, and north of Chateau-Thierry, France, 4 June 1918. On May 15 Lieutenant Sardier, while a member on a patrol, left his unit and alone attacked and destroyed two enemy planes (single seaters). On 4 June while under American command, he attacked and burned two enemy balloons. On 14 September near St. Mihiel, he attacked two enemy balloons and drove off an enemy biplane. This action took place while serving under American command.

Service: French Air Service

Rank: First Lieutenant of Air Service

War Department, General Orders No. 53 (1920)

Reference

Choices in Vichy France: the French under Nazi occupation. John F. Sweets. Oxford University Press, 1994. ISBN 0195090527, 9780195090529.