Laurent B. Ruamps
Encyclopedia
Adjutant Laurent Baptisti Ruamps was a French flying ace
during World War I. He was credited with ten confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.
. He began pilot's training at Dijon
on 30 September.
and Avord
. On 27 March 1917, he was promoted to Caporal
. On 22 April, he was forwarded to Pau for advanced training. On 17 May, he was assigned to Escadrille 42. On 21 August, he shot down a two-seater reconnaissance craft over Pagny-sur-Meuse
. Four days later, he was promoted to Sergent.
. Ruamps was promoted to Adjutant
on 20 February 1918. On 8 April, he received a Medaille Militaire to accompany his Croix de Guerre. Ruamps would go on to score eight more victories before war's end, including a pair shared with Charles J. V. Macé
and Maurice Bizot
. Ruamps ended the war with 530 hours flight time.
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 ten confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.
1916
On 12 January 1916, Ruamps volunteered for military service. He was assigned to 2e Groupe d'Aviation as a Soldat de 2e classe. On 29 February 1916, the Groupe seconded him to Saint CyrÉcole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
. 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 30 September.
1917
He was awarded Military Pilot's Brevet No. 5257 on 24 January 1917. He continued his training at ChateaurouxChâteauroux
Châteauroux is the capital of the Indre department in central France and the second-largest town in the province of Berry, after Bourges. Its residents are called Castelroussines or Castelroussins....
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...
. On 27 March 1917, he was promoted to Caporal
Caporal
Caporal may refer to:*Caporal, a type of strong dark tobacco*Caporales, a Bolivian dance*Caporal in French, equivalent to Corporal...
. On 22 April, he was forwarded to Pau for advanced training. On 17 May, he was assigned to Escadrille 42. On 21 August, he shot down a two-seater reconnaissance craft over Pagny-sur-Meuse
Pagny-sur-Meuse
Pagny-sur-Meuse is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meuse department...
. Four days later, he was promoted to Sergent.
1918
On 4 January 1918, Ruamps shared a victory with Gilbert SardierGilbert Sardier
Lieutenant Jean Marie Luc Gilbert Sardier was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories. He remained active in aviation following World War I...
. Ruamps 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...
on 20 February 1918. On 8 April, he received a Medaille Militaire to accompany his Croix de Guerre. Ruamps would go on to score eight more victories before war's end, including a pair shared with Charles J. V. Macé
Charles J. V. Macé
Adjutant Charles Jean Vincent Macé was a French flying ace during World War I. He shot down eight German observation balloons and four enemy airplanes for confirmed victories....
and Maurice Bizot
Maurice Bizot
Adjutant Maurice Bizot was a French World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed aerial victories.-World War I:Bizot joined the French military on 8 January 1915. Rated a soldat de 2e classe, he was assigned to 11e Regiment d'Artillerie a pied. He was promoted to enlisted Brigadier on 6 April...
. Ruamps ended the war with 530 hours flight time.
Post World War I
On 11 July 1920, he was became a Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur. He would rise within the Legion twice, to Officier in 1936, and to Commandeur in July 1961.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.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/ruamps.php has a handy list of his victories
- http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-US&dl=en&lp=FR_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2ffr.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fLaurent_Ruamps contains personal recollections of Ruamp by his grandson
- http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/07/27/879841-Saint-Germain-du-Bel-Air-Nos-heros-meconnus.html contains a photo of Ruamps posed before his airplane