Gabriel Guérin
Gabriel Guérin | |
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Medaille militaire, Croix de Guerre |
Sous Lieutenant Gabriel Fernand Charles Guérin (25 July 1892 – 1 August 1918),
Prewar life
Gabriel Fernand Charles Guérin was born in Morocco on 25 July 1892. He joined the 28e Regiment d'Infanterie in October 1913, starting as a soldat de 2e class.[1]
World War I service
Guérin was cited for his service the first time in June 1915, when he had risen to soldat de 1e classe. He was cited a second time as a corporal, in July 1916. The following month, he began aviation training. He received Pilot's Brevet 4981 on 10 December 1916.[2]
After advanced training, he was posted to Escadrille 15, a Nieuport squadron on 25 April 1917. He scored his first aerial victory a month later. By July, he was a sergeant credited with four victories. He scored his sixth win on 26 August, and was awarded the Médaille militaire the next day. He was promoted to adjutant by 1 November, when he notched his seventh triumph. He closed out 1917 with 11 victories.[2]
By 27 February 1918, when he was inducted into the
On 1 August 1918, while taking off in a
Citations for military decorations
"Never ceases to give the highest examples of bravery, strength, sang-froid, and devotion. On 23 July 1917, he downed his fourth enemy plane. Already cited five times in orders."
"Elite officer and incomparable pursuit pilot. Raises the morale and enthusiasm of his Escadrille by his great example, moral courage and by the prestige of his victories. On 3 February 1918 he downed his 14th and 15th enemy planes. Médaille Militaire for feats of war and nine citations."
Inline citations
References
- 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 978-0-948817-54-0.
- SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1841763160, 9781841763163.