Mathieu Tenant de la Tour
Encyclopedia
Capitaine Mathieu Marie Joseph Antoine Tenant de la Tour (5 December 1883 - 17 December 1917) was a World War I flying ace
credited with nine aerial victories. He was a prewar pioneer in aviation who went on to score one of the first aerial victories over an observation balloon
.
to Brussels
to win the Automobile Club prize of $20,000, but failed to finish the return flight.
Tenant de la Tour began his military service in the cavalry. He became an air force pilot on 6 May 1915 when he was awarded Pilot's Brevet No. 1919. He underwent advanced training, then survived an accident on 30 October 1915. On 29 December 1915, he was assigned to Escadrille 57. On 25 January 1916, flying in a literal fog of war, de la Tour helped down a German kite balloon from an altitude of fifty meters in one of the first air-to-air wins over an observation balloon
. The feat earned him the Legion d'honneur.
He was wounded in action on 25 April 1916. After he healed, he was assigned to Escadrille 3 to pilot a Nieuport
fighter. During July, August, and September, he claimed another balloon and five enemy airplanes. On 27 December 1916, he had switched to a Spad VII for his eighth kill by downing Gustav Leffers
.
In April 1917, after being promoted to Lieutenant, he was given command of Escadrille 26. He scored his last victory on 7 May 1917.
He died in a flying accident on 17 December 1917.
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 nine aerial victories. He was a prewar pioneer in aviation who went on to score one of the first aerial victories over an 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....
.
Biography
He was born on 5 December 1883 in Paris. In 1910 he attempted to fly a round trip from ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
to win the Automobile Club prize of $20,000, but failed to finish the return flight.
Tenant de la Tour began his military service in the cavalry. He became an air force pilot on 6 May 1915 when he was awarded Pilot's Brevet No. 1919. He underwent advanced training, then survived an accident on 30 October 1915. On 29 December 1915, he was assigned to Escadrille 57. On 25 January 1916, flying in a literal fog of war, de la Tour helped down a German kite balloon from an altitude of fifty meters in one of the first air-to-air wins over an 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....
. The feat earned him the Legion d'honneur.
He was wounded in action on 25 April 1916. After he healed, he was assigned to Escadrille 3 to pilot 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:...
fighter. During July, August, and September, he claimed another balloon and five enemy airplanes. On 27 December 1916, he had switched to a Spad VII for his eighth kill by downing Gustav Leffers
Gustav Leffers
Gustav Leffers was a German flying ace in World War I, credited with 9 victories.-Background:Leffers was born in Wilhelmshaven, the son of a naval engineer. He was educated in Wilhelmshaven and Stettin and went on to join the Holland America Line as an engineer candidate...
.
In April 1917, after being promoted to Lieutenant, he was given command of Escadrille 26. He scored his last victory on 7 May 1917.
He died in a flying accident on 17 December 1917.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/viallet.php contains a photo and victory list
- http://www.leshussardsdelauzun.com/portraits.htm has a photo of Tenant de la Tour in cavalry dress uniform on page 9 of 19
- www.leshussardsdelauzun.com/etendard.htm shows Tenant de la Tour on parade with his cavalry regiment prior to World War I
- http://www.aeroconservancy.com/lescigognes.htm contains a famous caricature of Tenant de la Tour and his squadronmates