Dieudonné Costes

fighter ace during World War I

ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0

Breguet 19 aircraft.^{[citation needed}

Persia, with J. Rignot, as part of a 19,625-km (12,187-mile) Paris-India-Paris flight.^{[citation needed}

Natal, Brazil.^[3] While in South America, they routed themselves through every country in the continent.^[4] On 15–17 December 1928, Costes, with Paul Codos, set a world distance record in a closed circuit of 8,029 km (4,986 miles).^{[citation needed}

Breguet 19 Super Bidon "?" ("Point d'Interrogation" or "Question Mark"). They returned after 17 hours, however, due to bad weather. On 27–29 September 1929, they set the world distance record, flying 7,905 km (4,909 miles) from Paris to Qiqihar, China.^{[citation needed}

heavier-than-air aircraft to reach New York in the more difficult westbound direction between the North American and European mainlands. They covered either 5,850 km (3,633 miles) or 6,200 km (3,850 miles), according to different sources, in 37 hours 18 minutes. While flying over Portsmouth, New Hampshire, they lost their navigational map out of an open window of the plane. Two children saw the map falling from the sky while they were watching for the flight to cross over their farm. The children, Louise Stef and her brother John, returned the map to Costes, who had asked for its return through the media.^[5]

Versailles, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died on 18 May 1973 in Paris and is buried in Passy Cemetery.^{[citation needed}

Legion of Honour, the Croix de Guerre with seven palms and a gold star, and the Médaille militaire, among other decorations. He also received the 1929 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Gold Medal and the 1929 Harmon Trophy.^{[citation needed}