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 serviceedit
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 Legion d'honneur, he was a triple ace.[2] At some time during the summer, he had access to a Spad XII armed with a 37mm cannon, and may have scored with it.[3] Guérin had run his total to 22 when he was wounded in action on 11 May 1918. After convalescence, he was given command of Escadrille 88, a Spad squadron on 7 July 1918. Six days later, he was promoted to a commissioned officer as a lieutenant. Six days after that, he scored his 23rd victory.[4]
On 1 August 1918, while taking off in a Spad VII, Guérin spun in to his death. His victory total of 23 included five shared victories; however, he also had ten claims unconfirmed. In addition to the Legion d'honneur and Médaille militaire, he had won the Croix de Guerre with 15 palms and two bronze stars.[2]
"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."
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. ISBN0-948817-54-2, ISBN978-0-948817-54-0.
SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN1841763160, 9781841763163.
External linksedit
(in French) Biography, list of aerial victories, color profile of his plane
April 12, 2024
gabriel, guérin, sous, lieutenant, gabriel, fernand, charles, guérin, july, 1892, august, 1918, legion, honneur, medaille, militaire, croix, guerre, world, fighter, pilot, credited, with, confirmed, aerial, victories, born25, july, 1892moroccodied1, august, 19. Sous Lieutenant Gabriel Fernand Charles Guerin 25 July 1892 1 August 1918 Legion d honneur Medaille militaire Croix de Guerre was a World War I fighter pilot credited with 23 confirmed aerial victories Gabriel GuerinBorn25 July 1892MoroccoDied1 August 1918 1918 09 aged 26 Mont l EvequeAllegiance FranceService wbr branchInfantryAir ServiceYears of service1913 1918RankSous LieutenantUnitEscadrille 15 Escadrille 88Battles warsWorld War IAwardsLegion d honneur Medaille militaire Croix de Guerre Contents 1 Prewar life 2 World War I service 3 Citations for military decorations 4 Inline citations 5 References 6 External linksPrewar life editGabriel Fernand Charles Guerin 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 editGuerin 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 Medaille 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 Legion d honneur he was a triple ace 2 At some time during the summer he had access to a Spad XII armed with a 37mm cannon and may have scored with it 3 Guerin had run his total to 22 when he was wounded in action on 11 May 1918 After convalescence he was given command of Escadrille 88 a Spad squadron on 7 July 1918 Six days later he was promoted to a commissioned officer as a lieutenant Six days after that he scored his 23rd victory 4 On 1 August 1918 while taking off in a Spad VII Guerin spun in to his death His victory total of 23 included five shared victories however he also had ten claims unconfirmed In addition to the Legion d honneur and Medaille militaire he had won the Croix de Guerre with 15 palms and two bronze stars 2 Citations for military decorations editMedaille Militaire 27 August 1917 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 Chevalier de la Legion d Honneur 27 February 1918 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 Medaille Militaire for feats of war and nine citations Inline citations edit Over the Front p 166 a b c d Over the Front p 167 Spad XII XIII Aces of World War I p 12 Over the Front pp 167 168 References editOver 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 0 948817 54 2 ISBN 978 0 948817 54 0 SPAD XII XIII Aces of World War 1 Jon Guttman Osprey Publishing 2002 ISBN 1841763160 9781841763163 External links edit in French Biography list of aerial victories color profile of his plane Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gabriel Guerin amp oldid 1153274778, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
