Portrait Captain GUYNEMER under frame

On september 11, 1917, during a dogfight over the belgian village of poelkapelle, captain georges guynemer disappeared, "fallen in the sky of glory, after three years of fiery struggle", according to the terms of his last citation to the order of the army. This disappearance has a huge impact in the national and international press which for two years has made its front page of the exploits of the pilot: the youth of this one, his personality, his then unequaled record of fifty-three aerial victories largely explain this immense popularity, maintained by official propaganda. However, when war broke out, georges guynemer, a brilliant student barely twenty years old, was twice refused his requests for enlistment because of his weak constitution. His tenacity prevailed on november 23, 1914, when he managed to enter the aviation school of pau, first as an assistant mechanic, then as a student pilot, engaged for the duration of the war. Licensed pilot in april 1915, he was assigned in june to the soon famous squadron number 3, that of the storks, where he first carried out reconnaissance missions, before delivering his first victorious aerial combat on july 19, with his mechanic guerder. Promoted to sergeant and decorated with the military medal, guynemer went on to win victory after victory from december 1915: on his successive aircraft, all nicknamed vieux charles, he won up to four in the single day of may 25, 1917. His successes, at verdun, on the somme or during the offensive of the chemin des dames, briefly interrupted by an injury in march 1916, earned him to reach the age of twenty-three years of age in the rank of captain and to receive, on june 11, 1917, the cross of officer of the legion of honor. This extraordinary journey is then known to all. Remaining anonymous during his first year of fighting, guynemer gained notoriety on february 6, 1916, the day of his fifth victory that suits him.

Ref. : SJ4KT8D8