René Dousinelle
Encyclopedia
Sous lieutenant René Paul Louis Dousinelle was a French World War I flying ace
credited with nine confirmed and three unconfirmed aerial victories.
Dousinelle began military service as an infantryman on 9 October 1912. He was mentioned in dispatches while serving as a soldier.
He received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 4349 on 27 August 1916. He then went on to advanced training at Pau and Cazaux
. On 6 April 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille 311, only to be transferred a week later to Escadrille 48. He reported to his new unit as a Sergent pilot. He scored his maiden victory on 21 September 1917, sharing a win over a German two-seater reconnaissance plane with Sergent René Montrion
. The next day, he shared another victory, teaming with Adjutant
Georges Blanc
to take down an Albatros
two-seater. On 7 October, he helped another pilot destroy a German fighter plane. Two days later, he was promoted to Adjutant.
On 31 May 1918, he was commissioned as a Temporary Sous Lieutenant. Dousinelle then shot down another German recon plane on 5 June, followed by double victories on both the 11th and the 28th. His ninth victory, on 22 July 1918, preceded his receipt of the Legion d'honneur five days later. Previously, he had won the Medaille Militaire and both French and Belgian Croix de guerres. His Legion d'honneur citation referred to one of his double victories, probably that of 11 June: "Recently, accompanied by two young pilots, he did not hesitate to attack an enemy patrol of eleven scouts and downed two in our lines."
In October 1918, Dousinelle was relieved of combat duty and sent for a rest.
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 confirmed and three unconfirmed aerial victories.
Dousinelle began military service as an infantryman on 9 October 1912. He was mentioned in dispatches while serving as a soldier.
He received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 4349 on 27 August 1916. He then went on to advanced training at Pau and Cazaux
Cazaux
Cazaux is a commune of the Ariège department in southwestern France....
. On 6 April 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille 311, only to be transferred a week later to Escadrille 48. He reported to his new unit as a Sergent pilot. He scored his maiden victory on 21 September 1917, sharing a win over a German two-seater reconnaissance plane with Sergent 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....
. The next day, he shared another victory, teaming with 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...
Georges Blanc
Georges Blanc
Adjutant Georges Pierre Blanc was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-References:...
to take down an Albatros
Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Albatros-Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturer best known for supplying the German airforces during World War I.The company was based in Johannisthal, Berlin, where it was founded by Walter Huth and Otto Wiener on December 20, 1909. It produced some of the most capable fighter aircraft...
two-seater. On 7 October, he helped another pilot destroy a German fighter plane. Two days later, he was promoted to Adjutant.
On 31 May 1918, he was commissioned as a Temporary Sous Lieutenant. Dousinelle then shot down another German recon plane on 5 June, followed by double victories on both the 11th and the 28th. His ninth victory, on 22 July 1918, preceded his receipt of the Legion d'honneur five days later. Previously, he had won the Medaille Militaire and both French and Belgian Croix de guerres. His Legion d'honneur citation referred to one of his double victories, probably that of 11 June: "Recently, accompanied by two young pilots, he did not hesitate to attack an enemy patrol of eleven scouts and downed two in our lines."
In October 1918, Dousinelle was relieved of combat duty and sent for a rest.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/dousinelle.php lists Dousinelle's victories
- http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-US&dl=en&lp=FR_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2falbindenis.free.fr%2fSite_escadrille%2fescadrille048.htm connects with the Escadrille 48 website
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.