Captain Gustave Naudin (29 May 1890–16 April 1978) was a French World War I
flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...
credited with six aerial victories.
[The Aerodrome websit]
Retrieved 8 January 2018. He returned to his nation's defense during World War II, serving as an infantry officer.
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Early life
Gustave Naudin was born in Corberon, France on 29 May 1890.[Franks, Bailey, p. 196.]
Military service in World War I
Service in the cavalry
Naudin enlisted in the cavalry for four years on 13 April 1909. Exactly four years later, he was remanded to the reserves. On 4 August 1914, he was recalled to active duty with the 16th Regiment de Chasseurs. Promoted to Maréchal des logis
is a sub-officer rank used by some units of the French Armed Forces. It is traditionally a cavalry unit rank. There are three distinct ranks of ''maréchal des logis'', which are generally the equivalents of sergeant ranks (although they genera ...
on 17 March 1915, he was transferred to the 408th Regiment d'Infanterie the next day.[
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Service in aviation
On 19 May 1916, Naudin began pilot's training. He qualified for his Pilot's Brevet on 22 October 1916. He then received advanced training before being posted to ''Escadrille N26'' on 4 February 1917.[ On 12 July, while flying a ]Caudron
The Société des Avions Caudron was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 as the Association Aéroplanes Caudron Frères by brothers Gaston and René Caudron. It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for ...
,[Guttman, pp. 15–16.] he and his observer scored an aerial victory. His Medaille Militaire award of 13 August for this action read:[
"Pilot who through his spirit, ability, courage and contempt for danger, won everyone's admiration. On 12 July 1917, he resolutely attacked a group of three enemy aircraft which were flying over their lines and downed one of them. Taking off a second time the same day, to carry out aircraft spotting, he was wounded by shrapnel but he completed his mission in spite of a violent bombardment. Already cited in orders."][
After his first aerial victory of 12 July 1917, he was 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 ...
on 25 July. Over the next year, Naudin would score five more aerial victories. On 20 August 1918, he was promoted to Adjutant Chef. While on a trench strafing mission on 29 September, he was wounded by ground fire. He was appointed as a ''Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was o ...
'' on 8 November 1918.[
Gustave Naudin had flown 603 1/2 hours during the war.][
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World War II military service
Gustave Naudin returned to his nation's defense for World War II. He was promoted to '' Capitaine''. On 9 September 1944, he was wounded in an infantry action. For his gallant service, he was awarded another Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
; he was also raised to ''Officier de la Legion d'Honneur''.[
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Post World War II
Gustav Naudin died on 16 April 1978.[
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Awards and decorations
* ''Officier de la Legion d'Honneur'': During World War II
* ''Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was o ...
'': 8 November 1918
* '' Medaille Militaire'': 13 August 1917
* ''Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
'' with five ''palmes'' and an ''etoile vermeil'': During World War I
* ''Croix de guerre'' with an ''etoile d'argent'': During World War II[
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Endnotes
Bibliography
* Franks, Norman and Frank Bailey (2008). ''Over The Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 ''. Grub Street Publishing.
* Guttman, Jon (2001). ''Spad VII Aces of World War I (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 39)''. Osprey Publishing. , .
1890 births
1978 deaths
French World War I flying aces
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