Georges Guynemer

The Symbol of France in World War 1

Dec 31, 2008 Murray McLeod

The story of Georges Guynemer who graduated from air mechanic to National hero, to disappear withoput trace on September 11 1917.

Born in 1894 Georges Marie Guynemer was the only son of a retired army officer. Delicate in health, the boy was raised in a sheltered environment by his mother and two sisters. At the outbreak of war Guynemer tried to enlist and on two occasions he was rejected due to his frail appearance. The determined youngster finally succeeded in being accepted as a pupil/ mechanic at Pau aerodrome. By dint of further persuasion he was accepted for pilot training and gained his brevet in March 1915.

Operational

His initial posting was to Escadrille M.33 equipped with Morane Bullets. Guynemer quickly established a reputation for great daring; with a confirmed victory in July 1915. In September he was shot down and was fortunate to be rescued by French troops when he force-landed in no-man’s land. It was the first of seven occasions when he was shot down.

December 24 1915 was memorable for the young Guynemer. It was the occasion of his 21st birthday and also the award of the Legion d’Honneur for courage and devotion to duty. His eighth victory was scored on 16 March 1916 and two days later he suffered a wounding. Guynemer made a quick recovery and returned to duty in a matter of weeks.

Vieux Charles

Lt. Guynemer’s unit was redesignated N3, the fabled ‘Storks’ and in a five-month period up to 19 August his squadron took part in 338 combats. On 23 September he scored a triple victory and was again shot down, but without injury. September was a significant month, which saw the introduction of the S.P.A.D. which broke with French tradition with its powerful V8 Hispano engine. Guynemer accepted one of the first as his personal aircraft, naming it ‘Vieux Charles’. His Spad became as much a symbol of France as its legendary pilot.

A National Hero

Between November 1916 and January 1917 his score increased relentlessly, reaching 30 by the end of the month. He was promoted Capitaine in February, scored a second triple victory on 17 March and a quadruple on 25 May.

Further decorations were awarded in June 1917 when he was made Officier de Legion d’Honneur.

Guynemer’s exploits had raised him to a status of national hero and the most revered of the ‘Storks’. Time and again he was urgently requested to take a rest from operational flying, but Guynemer summarily rejected these requests, despite his apparent exhaustion from combat flying.

His dazzling series of flights continued, with a quadruple victory on 25 May; bringing his total to 45. Perhaps the culmination of his career was a parade in his honour on 5 July 1917 when he was awarded the rosette of the Legion d’Honneur. The French High Command again appealed to Guynemer to retire from active flying, and again their appeals were rejected. During July and August he increased his score to 53, surpassing any Allied ace of that period.

Missing

September 11 is a date in modern society that is remembered as a day of infamy; and for France in 1917 it was the day that Georges Guynemer failed to return from an early morning patrol. He was seen to engage an enemy 2-seater over Poelcapelle; it spun away, pursued by Guynemer. It was the last sighting of Guynemer who disappeared without trace; and reluctantly the French High Command released the news that Guynemer was missing. Some days later a German pilot, Leutnant Wisseman claimed to have shot down Guynemer, but his claim had little credence when he cited 10 September as the date of his combat. No trace of Guynemer or his ‘Vieux Charles’ was ever found; following a German statement that the pilot’s grave and his aircraft were obliterated by British shelling. After 600 combats the youngest and greatest hero of the war had disappeared. A plaque to his imperishable memory can be viewed in the crypt of the Pantheon in Paris.

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