Roland de la Poype
Roland de la Poype | |
---|---|
Born | Les Pradeaux, France | 28 July 1920
Died | 23 October 2012[1] Saint-Tropez, France | (aged 92)
Buried | Cimetière Chapelle Saint-Didier Cozance
Trept, Departement de l'Isère, Rhône-Alpes, France |
Allegiance | France |
Service/ |
|
Years of service | 1939–1947 |
Unit |
|
Known for | Aviator, flying ace, industrialist. |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Roland Paulze d'Ivoy de la Poype, (28 July 1920 – 23 October 2012) was a
He was also a politician, a pioneering industrialist in the plastics industry and the founder of the Antibes
Biography
Roland de la Poype was born on July 28th, 1920 at the
Wartime service
Aged 19 years old in August 1939 de la Poype enrolled in the French air force and began training as a pilot. He finished his training in March 1940, shortly before the
After serving in
He claimed his first aircraft destroyed, a Messerschmitt Bf 109, on 22 August 1942 over Gravelines, and flew more than 60 combat missions.
Upon learning that a group of French volunteers was to be sent to the Soviet front, he joined the Normandie fighter group and was part of the first batch of 12 French pilots who, via transfers through Lebanon and Iraq, arrived in
On 31 August 1943 he shot down a
In early 1945, with the rank of captain, he commanded the 1st squadron of the fighter group.[3] Present in the Soviet Union until June 20, 1945, "the Marquis", or "Pohype" as he was nicknamed by his comrades. He ended the war with a total tally of 16 confirmed aerial victories (7 solo and 9 shared victories), one (and 11 shared) probables, and one aircraft damaged in almost 200 missions, most of which were achieved while flying with top French ace and Commanding Officer Marcel Albert.[citation needed] De la Poype was one of only four members of the regiment to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and a Companions of Liberation at only 27 years old.
Totaling 1,200 flight hours, he was authorized by
Plastic industry career
An
Marineland in Antibes
De la Poype created the
He was also mayor of Champigné and was the owner of a golf course near Angers.
Writings
- Roland de la Poype, L'épopée du Normandie-Niémen, Perrin, 2007
Medals and awards
- Grand Croix of the French Légion d'Honneur, the order's highest rank
- Compagnon de la Libération(29 December 1944)
- Croix de Guerre 1939–1945with 12 citations
- Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Order of the Red Banner
- Order of Lenin
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class
- Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
References
- ^ "Décès de Roland La Poype, pilote du Normandie-Niémen et Compagnon de la Libération". Le Point. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- Ordre de la Libération. 24 October 2012.
- Ordre de la Libération. 24 October 2012..