Escadrille 31
''Escadrille 31'' of the French Air Force was founded at the beginning of the World War I, on 24 September 1914, at Dijon Air Base. Once equipped with Morane-Saulnier Ns, it was posted to ''I Armee'' of the French Army. History In February 1915, ''Escadrille MS 31'' was moved to defense of Verdun. In April 1915, it returned to ''I Armee''; on the 26th, it began re-equipping with Nieuport 10 two-seaters.Franks, Bailey 1992, p. 91. By January 1916, the ''Escadrille 31'' had rearmed with ten single-seater Nieuport 11s. When the unit acquired Lieutenant de Villeneuve as commander in mid April, he instituted the use of a Roman archer as the ''escadrille'' insignia. In October, ''Escadrille N 31'' shifted to support ''II Armee''. The following month, the unit was incorporated into ''Groupe de Combat II''. ''Escadrille 31'' began receiving SPADs on 7 January 1917. However, it would not totally rearm with SPADs until 17 September, when it was renamed ''Escadrille SPA 31''. The ''escadril ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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French Air Service
The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the French Air Force (). On 10 September 2020, it assumed its current name, the French Air and Space Force, to reflect an "evolution of its mission" into the area of outer space. The number of aircraft in service with the French Air and Space Force varies depending on the source; the Ministry of Armed Forces (France), Ministry of Armed Forces gives a figure of 658 aircraft in 2014. According to 2025 data, this figure includes 207 combat aircraft: 99 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 108 Dassault Rafale. the French Air and Space Force employs a total of 40,500 regular personnel, with a military reserve forces of France, reserve element of 5,187 in 2014. The Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) is a direct subordinate of the Chief of ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Observation Balloon
An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for gathering intelligence and spotting artillery. The use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today. Synonyms include espionage balloon, reconnaissance balloon, spy balloon, and surveillance balloon. Historically, observation balloons were filled with hydrogen. The balloons were fabric envelopes filled with hydrogen gas, the flammable nature of which led to the destruction of hundreds of balloons. Observers manning these observation balloons frequently had to use a parachute to evacuate their balloon when it came under attack. Shortly after World War I, observation balloons were often filled with non-flammable helium to avoid the potentially explosive consequences of hydrogen. Typically, balloons were tethered to a steel cable attached to a winch that reeled the gas bag to its desired hei ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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François Portron
'' Sous lieutenant'' François Portron was a French World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.The Aerodrome website page on PortroRetrieved 28 August 2020 Biography See also Aerial victory standards of World War I François Portron was born in Lusignan, France on 13 June 1890.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', pp. 208-209 He was recalled from the military reserves as the First World War started, being posted to an artillery regiment on 3 August 1914. He was sent to aviation service on 10 October as a supply sergeant. On 21 January 1915, he was assigned to ''Escadrille V.24''; on 20 February, he moved on to ''Escadrille C.39''. He was subsequently selected for pilot's training. On 8 March 1916, he graduated with his Military Pilot's Brevet. After further training, on 17 February 1917, he became a flight instructor. On 14 September, he was promoted from the enlisted rank ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jules Covin
Sous Lieutenant Jules Charles Covin (18 October 1895 – 21 March 1918) was a French World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.The Aerodrome websitRetrieved 2 August 2020 Biography Jules Charles Covin was born in Saint-Saulve, France on 18 October 1895. He began his military service on 2 December 1914, being posted to the '' 3eme Group d'Aviation''. His success in pilot's training was rewarded by Military Pilot's Brevet No. on 30 January 1915. His second flying assignment, on 28 August 1916, was to ''Escadrille 52'', with whom he scored his first aerial victory, on 10 November 1916. Two weeks later, Covin was awarded the ''Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' (, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...''.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Georges Blanc (pilot)
Adjutant Georges Pierre Blanc was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/blanc.php Retrieved 30 July 2020. Biography Called for military service on 10 October 1908, Blanc was posted to an infantry regiment. On 20 June 1915, he began pilot's training, receiving Military Pilot's Brevet No. 2232 on 31 December. After some intermediary postings, he arrived at Escadrille N31 on 31 March 1917. He would score five aerial victories with this squadron, and be promoted to Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed .... Sources of information References * 1887 births 1960 deaths French World War I flying aces {{france-mil-bio-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Adjutant
Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commissioned officer rank similar to a master sergeant or warrant officer but is not equivalent to the role or appointment of an adjutant. An adjutant general is commander of an army's administrative services. Etymology Adjutant comes from the Latin ''adiutāns'', present participle of the verb ''adiūtāre'', frequentative form of ''adiuvāre'' 'to help'; the Romans actually used ''adiūtor'' for the noun. Military appointment In various uniformed hierarchies, the term is used for a number of functions, but generally as a principal aide to a commanding officer. A regimental adjutant, garrison adjutant etc. is a staff officer who assists the commanding officer of a regiment, battalion or garrison in the details of reg ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jacques Ortoli
Commandant Jacques Toussaint François Ortoli was a French Corsican patriot who served France in two World Wars. In World War I, he was a flying ace credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories. He returned to his nation's defense during World War II.The Aerodrome http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/ortoli.php. Retrieved 7 September 2010. Early life Jacques Toussaint François Ortoli was born in Poggio di Tallano, Corsica on 16 July 1895. World War I Ortoli earned his Pilot's Brevet No. 1668 on 26 June 1914, thus barely qualifying as a prewar pilot. He volunteered for French military service for the length of the war on 2 September 1914. He entered as a '' soldat de 2e classe'' in the '' 2e Groupe d'Aviation''. On 30 September, he was awarded Military Pilot's Brevet No. 608. On 14 October 1914, he was simultaneously promoted to Corporal and assigned to Escadrille 8. On 25 February 1915, he was promoted to Sergeant. On 28 April 1915, Ortoli and his observer were credit ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Alfred Auger
Capitaine Albert Victor Robert Auger (26 January 1889 – 28 July 1917) was a French World War I flying ace credited with seven confirmed aerial victories, and a further 14 unconfirmed. Military service Auger volunteered to join the ''11ème régiment d'infanterie'' on 24 October 1907 as a reservist, and on the outbreak of World War I he was mobilized into the ''31ème régiment d'infanterie''. He was wounded in action on 31 August 1914, and was made a ''Chevalier'' of the ''Légion d'honneur'' on 8 November. He transferred to flying service on 25 January 1915, receiving military pilot's certificate No. 928 at the military flying school at Pau on 11 May 1915. He was posted to ''Escadrille 11'' on 11 May 1915, only to be wounded again on 8 July. On 22 September 1915, he took command of ''Escadrille 31'', and was promoted to ''capitaine'' on 26 December 1915. He scored twice in this assignment, on 13 March and 2 April 1916. Auger was seriously injured in a crash on 16 April. He r ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Killed In Action
Killed in action (KIA) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their personnel at the hands of enemy or hostile forces at the moment of action. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA did not need to have fired their weapons, but only to have been killed due to hostile attack. KIAs include those killed by friendly fire during combat, but not from incidents such as accidental vehicle crashes, murder, or other non-hostile events or terrorism. KIA can be applied both to front-line combat troops and naval, air, and support forces. Furthermore, the term died of wounds (DOW) is used to denote personnel who reached a medical treatment facility before dying. The category ''died of wounds received in action'' (''DWRIA'') is also used for combat related casualties which occur after medical evacuation. PKIA means presumed killed in action. This term is used when personnel are lost in battle, initial ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Société Pour L'Aviation Et Ses Dérivés
Groupe Lactalis S.A. (doing business as Lactalis) is a French multinational dairy products corporation, owned by the Besnier family and based in Laval, Mayenne, France. The company's former name was Besnier S.A. Lactalis is the largest dairy products group in the world, and is the second largest food products group in France, behind Danone. It owns brands such as Parmalat, Président, Kraft Natural Cheese, Siggi's Dairy, Skånemejerier, Rachel's Organic, and Stonyfield Farm. History André Besnier started a small cheesemaking company in 1933 and launched its '' Président'' brand of Camembert in 1968. In 1990, it acquired Group Bridel (2,300 employees, 10 factories, fourth-largest French dairy group) with a presence in 60 countries. In 1992, it acquired United States cheese company Sorrento. In 1999, ''la société Besnier'' became ''le groupe Lactalis'' owned by Belgian holding company BSA International SA. In 2006, they bought Italian group Galbani, and in 2008, bought ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting took place mainly in European theatre of World War I, Europe and the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I, Middle East, as well as in parts of African theatre of World War I, Africa and the Asian and Pacific theatre of World War I, Asia-Pacific, and in Europe was characterised by trench warfare; the widespread use of Artillery of World War I, artillery, machine guns, and Chemical weapons in World War I, chemical weapons (gas); and the introductions of Tanks in World War I, tanks and Aviation in World War I, aircraft. World War I was one of the List of wars by death toll, deadliest conflicts in history, resulting in an estimated World War I casualties, 10 million military dead and more than 20 million wounded, plus some 10 million civilian de ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Nieuport 11
The Nieuport 11 (or Nieuport XI C.1 in contemporary sources), nicknamed the ''Bébé'', is a French World War I single seat sesquiplane fighter aircraft, designed by Gustave Delage. It was the primary aircraft that ended the Fokker Scourge in 1916.Chant & Taylor 2007, p. 14. The type saw service with several of France's allies, and gave rise to the series of "vee-strut" Nieuport fighters that remained in service (latterly as trainers) into the 1920s. Design and development The Nieuport 11 was a new, slightly smaller aircraft based on the general configuration of the Nieuport 10, but designed specifically as a single-seat fighter. Like the "10", the "11" was a sesquiplane, a biplane with a full-sized top wing with two spars, and a lower wing of much narrower chord and a single spar. Interplane struts in the form of a "Vee" joined the upper and lower wings. The sesquiplane layout reduced drag and improved the rate of climb, as well as offering a better view from the cockpit th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |