Fernand Henri Chavannes
Sous Lieutenant Fernand Henri Chavannes was a French World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.[1]
Fernand Henri Chavannes | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 16, 1897 Paris, France |
| Died | October 5, 1985 (aged 88) |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/ | Aviation |
| Rank | Sous lieutenant |
| Unit | Escadrille 176, Escadrille 112 |
| Awards | Légion d'honneur Médaille militaire Croix de Guerre |
Biography
Fernand Henri Chavannes was the son of renowned sinologist and Chinese scholar Édouard Chavannes.[2] The younger Chavannes was born on 16 April 1897 in Paris. He began his military service on 12 January 1916; on 29 February, he went for pilot training. On 21 December 1916, he received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 5074. After advanced training, he was posted to Escadrille 112 on 24 April 1917.[3] Chavannes and his friend Lionel de Marmier were chosen to share a new "cannon Spad", the SPAD XII, when it came out in mid-1917. The letters "M" and "C", representing their last names, were intertwined in paint on the side of its fuselage.[4]
Chavannes's string of seven confirmed victories began on 8 February 1918. After his fifth victory, he was commissioned as a temporary Sous lieutenant on 1 April 1918. He ended the war with seven victories.[3]
Honors and awards
- Légion d'Honneur
"Pursuit pilot of exceptional audacity and skill. Entitled to eight citations and seven victories." Légion d'Honneur citation[1]
- Médaille Militaire
"First class pursuit pilot, courageous and with accomplished skill. He reported his fourth victory by attacking an enemy two-seater and forcing it to land behind our lines." Médaille Militaire citation, 13 April 1918[1]
- Chavannes also won the Croix de guerre with seven palmes and an etoile de bronze.
Sources of information
References
- Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank. Grub Street Publishing, 1993. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
- SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1841763160, 9781841763163.
