Maurice Bizot
Encyclopedia
Adjutant Maurice Bizot was a French World War I flying ace
credited with ten confirmed aerial victories.
on 6 April 1915. On 13 March 1916, he was transferred to 82eme Regiment d'Artillerie lourde. On 12 May 1917, he began pilot's training at Dijon
. On 9 July 1917, at Istres
, he was granted Military Pilot's Brevet No. 7370. He was then sent for advanced training at Avord
and Pau. He reached a combat unit, Escadrille 90, on 13 October 1917. On 25 January 1918, he was promoted to Sergent. He used a Nieuport
to score his first two wins on 27 March 1918, sharing the victories with Charles J. V. Macé
and Laurent B. Ruamps
. Escadrille 90 upgraded to Spad
s, and Bizot used one for the remainder of his victories, which ran from 30 July through 29 October 1918. He teamed with fellow aces Jean Andre Pezon
and Marius Ambrogi
, as well as other French pilots in this series of assaults, which brought down seven observation balloons and put Bizot solidly on the list of balloon busters.
He was promoted to Adjutant on 1 August 1918. He was awarded the Medaille Militaire on 5 September 1918. He also had been awarded the Croix de Guerre with six palmes during the war.
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 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 BrigadierBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
on 6 April 1915. On 13 March 1916, he was transferred to 82eme Regiment d'Artillerie lourde. On 12 May 1917, 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 9 July 1917, at Istres
Istres
Istres is a commune in southern France, some 60 km northwest of Marseille. It is in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture...
, he was granted Military Pilot's Brevet No. 7370. He was then sent for advanced training at 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...
and Pau. He reached a combat unit, Escadrille 90, on 13 October 1917. On 25 January 1918, he was promoted to Sergent. He used 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 score his first two wins on 27 March 1918, sharing the victories 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 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:...
. Escadrille 90 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, and Bizot used one for the remainder of his victories, which ran from 30 July through 29 October 1918. He teamed with fellow aces Jean Andre Pezon
Jean Andre Pezon
Lieutenant Colonel Jean Andre Pezon began his military career during World War I and became a flying ace credited with ten confirmed aerial victories. He served his nation through World War II and into the Korean War.-World War I:...
and Marius Ambrogi
Marius Ambrogi
Sous Lieutenant Marius Jean Paul Elzeard Ambrogi flew as a fighter pilot in both World Wars. He became a flying ace during World War I, with fourteen aerial victories; he added another "kill" during World War II...
, as well as other French pilots in this series of assaults, which brought down seven observation balloons and put Bizot solidly on the list of balloon busters.
He was promoted to Adjutant on 1 August 1918. He was awarded the Medaille Militaire on 5 September 1918. He also had been awarded the Croix de Guerre with six palmes during the war.
Postwar
On 27 November 1925, Bizot was flying an air racer he was prepping for a world's speed record. He attempted a landing at over 100 mph (160 km/h), overturned the plane, and died in the accident.External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/bizot.php
- http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/bizot.htm
- http://www.wwiaviation.com/aces/ace_Bizot.html
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.