Major GeneralJoseph Marie Xavier de Sévin (10 March 1894 – 7 November 1963) began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with twelve confirmed aerial victories,[1] as well as thirteen unconfirmed ones. He rose to the rank of major general while serving until World War II.[2]
Joseph Marie Xavier de Sévin was born on 10 March 1894 in Toulouse, France. His education progressed to military schooling.[2]
World War I serviceedit
1914edit
De Sévin was in the special military school at St. Cyr in 1914. He volunteered for active military service on 2 September 1914. His first assignment was as an enlisted man in the 14e Regiment d'Infanterie. He then began a series of rapid promotions. On 5 November 1914, he was promoted to Corporal; on 30 November, to Sergeant; on 5 December, he was commissioned a temporary Sous lieutenant.[2]
1915edit
On 15 July 1915, de Sévin reported to Pau for pilot's training. On 19 October 1915, he was awarded Pilot's Brevet No. 1804. On 11 November, he was assigned to Escadrille N12 to pilot both single-seat and two-seat Nieuports.[3] He was confirmed in his commission on 27 December 1915.[2]
He would not score his first aerial victory until 11 July 1916. His second was eight months later, when he shared a claim with Marcel Nogues on 4 March 1917. He was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur on 19 April 1917. On 11 May, he teamed with Alfred Auger for a third win, over a two-seater. On 19 June, he shared a victory with Jacques Ortoli and Jean Chaput. By 30 September, his string was up to six, with five of the wins shared.[1] On 25 December, he was given command of Escadrille Spa26,[3] accompanied by a promotion to lieutenant.[2]
1918edit
He tallied up another six wins between 20 January 1918 and 24 October 1918, including one shared with Andre Dubonnet.[1] During this stretch, he was appointed temporary Captain on 2 March 1918, and confirmed in the rank on 28 June.[2]
Post World War I serviceedit
De Sévin continued in service after the war, becoming a professional soldier. At some point, de Sévin served in Morocco, at Istres; he also was the French Air Attaché in Bucharest.[2]
De Sévin commanded a flying school during World War II, and was in North Africa in 1943. On 25 September 1944, Joseph Marie Xavier de Sévin capped off his professional career by being promoted to General de Division Aerienne and raised to Grand Officer de la Légion d'honneur.[2]
Joseph Marie Xavier de Sévin died on 7 November 1963.[2]
Honors and awardsedit
Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur
"Brilliant pilote de chasse having a high conception of devotion to duty. Always prepared for the most difficult missions. Wounded in the infantry at the beginning of the war, he transferred to aviation, downing his second enemy plane on 4 March 1917. Already cited three times in army orders." (Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur citation, 19 April 1917)[1][2]
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 I. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN1841763160, 9781841763163.
December 17, 2023
joseph, sévin, major, general, joseph, marie, xavier, sévin, march, 1894, november, 1963, began, military, career, world, flying, credited, with, twelve, confirmed, aerial, victories, well, thirteen, unconfirmed, ones, rose, rank, major, general, while, servin. Major General Joseph Marie Xavier de Sevin 10 March 1894 7 November 1963 began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with twelve confirmed aerial victories 1 as well as thirteen unconfirmed ones He rose to the rank of major general while serving until World War II 2 Joseph Marie Xavier de SevinBorn10 March 1894Toulouse FranceDiedNovember 7 1963 1963 11 07 aged 69 Allegiance FranceService wbr branchInfantry aviationRankMajor GeneralUnit14e Regiment d Infanterie Escadrille 12 Escadrille 26AwardsLegion d honneur Croix de Guerre with nine palmes Mentioned in Dispatches seven times Order of the British EmpireOther workMajor General during World War II Contents 1 Early life 2 World War I service 2 1 1914 2 2 1915 2 3 1916 1917 2 4 1918 3 Post World War I service 4 Honors and awards 5 Sources of information 6 ReferencesEarly life editJoseph Marie Xavier de Sevin was born on 10 March 1894 in Toulouse France His education progressed to military schooling 2 World War I service edit1914 edit De Sevin was in the special military school at St Cyr in 1914 He volunteered for active military service on 2 September 1914 His first assignment was as an enlisted man in the 14e Regiment d Infanterie He then began a series of rapid promotions On 5 November 1914 he was promoted to Corporal on 30 November to Sergeant on 5 December he was commissioned a temporary Sous lieutenant 2 1915 edit On 15 July 1915 de Sevin reported to Pau for pilot s training On 19 October 1915 he was awarded Pilot s Brevet No 1804 On 11 November he was assigned to Escadrille N12 to pilot both single seat and two seat Nieuports 3 He was confirmed in his commission on 27 December 1915 2 1916 1917 edit See also Aerial victory standards of World War I He would not score his first aerial victory until 11 July 1916 His second was eight months later when he shared a claim with Marcel Nogues on 4 March 1917 He was made a Chevalier de la Legion d honneur on 19 April 1917 On 11 May he teamed with Alfred Auger for a third win over a two seater On 19 June he shared a victory with Jacques Ortoli and Jean Chaput By 30 September his string was up to six with five of the wins shared 1 On 25 December he was given command of Escadrille Spa26 3 accompanied by a promotion to lieutenant 2 1918 edit He tallied up another six wins between 20 January 1918 and 24 October 1918 including one shared with Andre Dubonnet 1 During this stretch he was appointed temporary Captain on 2 March 1918 and confirmed in the rank on 28 June 2 Post World War I service editDe Sevin continued in service after the war becoming a professional soldier At some point de Sevin served in Morocco at Istres he also was the French Air Attache in Bucharest 2 De Sevin commanded a flying school during World War II and was in North Africa in 1943 On 25 September 1944 Joseph Marie Xavier de Sevin capped off his professional career by being promoted to General de Division Aerienne and raised to Grand Officer de la Legion d honneur 2 Joseph Marie Xavier de Sevin died on 7 November 1963 2 Honors and awards editChevalier de la Legion d honneur Brilliant pilote de chasse having a high conception of devotion to duty Always prepared for the most difficult missions Wounded in the infantry at the beginning of the war he transferred to aviation downing his second enemy plane on 4 March 1917 Already cited three times in army orders Chevalier de la Legion d honneur citation 19 April 1917 1 2 Awarded the Order of the British Empire during World War II 3 Sources of information edit a b c d The Aerodrome website 1 Retrieved on 26 March 2010 a b c d e f g h i j Over the Front A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services 1914 1918 p 148 a b c Nieuport Aces of World War 1 pp 48 49 References editNieuport Aces of World War 1 Norman Franks Osprey Publishing 2000 ISBN 1 85532 961 1 ISBN 978 1 85532 961 4 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 0 948817 54 2 ISBN 978 0 948817 54 0 SPAD XII XIII Aces of World War I Jon Guttman Osprey Publishing 2002 ISBN 1841763160 9781841763163 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph M X de Sevin amp oldid 1076570419, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
