Gilbert de Guingand
Encyclopedia
Sous lieutenant Gilbert Marie de Guingand was a French World War I flying ace
credited with eight aerial victories before being killed in action
.
, France on 21 July 1891. He began his military service in the 21e Regiment d'Infanterie Coloniale
before transferring to aviation.
squadron, in July 1916. He subsequently retrained as a fighter pilot. He was then posted to Escadrille N15, a Nieuport
unit. On 20 April 1917, he spent a single day in Escadrille N88 as it was forming; however, on 22 April he joined Escadrille N48, still another Nieuport squadron. He began his string of aerial victories there.
On 3 September 1917, he was wounded in action
while in combat against several German planes. He then received the Médaille militaire
for his valor; the award citation shows he had risen to the rank of Adjutant
. He was also awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre
. After recuperation, he returned to combat; as his squadron had upgraded to Spad
s, his final four victories were probably scored flying this type. At any rate, he ran his winning streak to eight confirmed victories by 7 June 1918, and was promoted to sous lieutenant in the process.
On 17 June 1918, he became a Chevalier
of the Legion d'honneur
as a reward for his fighting prowess. The citation not only refers to his eight credited victories, but also specifically to his highly hazardous practice of balloon busting
. Additionally, the citation describes de Guingand being shot down behind enemy lines while on a reconnaissance
and trench strafing
sortie, as well as his subsequent evasion of the Germans and his return to French lines.
Gilbert Marie de Guingand did not survive the war, as he died in a flying accident on 22 October 1918, less than three weeks before the armistice
.
Confirmed victories are numbered chronologically; unconfirmed victories are denoted "u/c".
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 eight aerial victories before being killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
.
Early life
Gilbert Marie de Guingand was born at ViroflayViroflay
Viroflay is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center and from the Palace of Versailles....
, France on 21 July 1891. He began his military service in the 21e Regiment d'Infanterie Coloniale
3rd Colonial Infantry Division (France)
The 3rd Colonial Infantry Division was a division of the French Marine Forces, comprising both French and colonial troops.The compagnie franches de la mer or French Marines were created in 1622 by Richelieu, and placed under the Ministry of the Navy in the early 19th century...
before transferring to aviation.
World War I
After transferring to aviation service, de Guingand trained until he received Pilot's Brevet number 2722 on 21 February 1916. He was assigned to Escadrille C34, a 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...
squadron, in July 1916. He subsequently retrained as a fighter pilot. He was then posted to Escadrille N15, 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:...
unit. On 20 April 1917, he spent a single day in Escadrille N88 as it was forming; however, on 22 April he joined Escadrille N48, still another Nieuport squadron. He began his string of aerial victories there.
On 3 September 1917, 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....
while in combat against several German planes. He then received the Médaille 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...
for his valor; the award citation shows he had risen to the rank of 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...
. He was also awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre
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...
. After recuperation, he returned to combat; as his squadron had upgraded to 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:...
s, his final four victories were probably scored flying this type. At any rate, he ran his winning streak to eight confirmed victories by 7 June 1918, and was promoted to sous lieutenant in the process.
On 17 June 1918, he became a Chevalier
Chevalier
Chevalier is a class of membership in a French Order of Chivalry or order of merit.* a member of the Ordre National du Mérite* a rank in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres* a rank in the Legion d'honneur* a member of the Order of Palmes académiques...
of the Legion d'honneur
Légion 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...
as a reward for his fighting prowess. The citation not only refers to his eight credited victories, but also specifically to his highly hazardous practice of balloon busting
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....
. Additionally, the citation describes de Guingand being shot down behind enemy lines while on a reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
and trench strafing
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
sortie, as well as his subsequent evasion of the Germans and his return to French lines.
Gilbert Marie de Guingand did not survive the war, as he died in a flying accident on 22 October 1918, less than three weeks before the armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
.
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War I
During World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
Confirmed victories are numbered chronologically; unconfirmed victories are denoted "u/c".
| No. | Date/time | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| u/c | 4 May 1917 | Albatros | |||
| u/c | 23 May 1917 | Albatros | |||
| 1 | 26 June 1917 @ 2015 hours | Albatros fighter | Destroyed | Berry-au-Bac Berry-au-Bac Berry-au-Bac is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.-References:*... , France |
Victory shared with another pilot |
| 2 | 18 August 1917 | Albatros | Destroyed | Foret d'Houthulst Houthulst Houthulst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Houthulst proper, Jonkershove, Klerken and Merkem. On January 1, 2006 Houthulst had a total population of 9,051... , Belgium |
Victory shared with Armand de Turenne Armand de Turenne Capitaine Armand Jean Galliot Joseph de Turenne was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.The Marquis de Turenne was a pre-war cavalryman who transferred to aviation after the war began. In June 1916, he was assigned to Escadrille 48 as a Nieuport pilot. He scored his first... |
| 3 | 26 August 1917 | Albatros | Destroyed | North of Dixmude, Belgium | Victory shared with René Montrion René Montrion Adjutant René Montrion was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eleven confirmed aerial and eight unconfirmed victories.... |
| u/c | 24 October 1917 | German two-seater | |||
| 4 | 15 December 1917 | German two-seater | Destroyed | Prosnes Prosnes Prosnes is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.... , France |
Victory shared with Robert Delannoy Robert Delannoy Sous Lieutenant Robert Joseph Delannoy was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-References:... , and two other pilots |
| u/c | 29 December 1917 | German two-seater | Sault Saint Remy-Roizy | ||
| 5 | 21 March 1918 @ 1808 hours | Albatros | Destroyed | Mont Cornilette | Victory shared 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... |
| 6 | 31 May 1918 | Fokker Triplane Fokker Dr.I The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918... |
Destroyed | South of Soissons Soissons Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones... , France |
|
| 7 | 6 June 1918 | 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.... |
Destroyed | Catigny Catigny Catigny is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.... , France |
Victory shared with Andre Montrion |
| 8 | 7 June 1918 | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Vézaponin Vézaponin Vézaponin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*... , France |
Victory shared with another pilot |
| u/c | 11 June 1918 | German two-seater | La Neuville-sur-Ressons La Neuville-sur-Ressons La Neuville-sur-Ressons is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-References:*... , France |
||
| u/c | 21 July 1918 | German airplane | |||
| u/c | 22 July 1918 | Fokker Fokker 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.... |
|||
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 0948817542, 9780948817540.