Colonel Marcel Émile HaegelenReal identity and exact surname attested by Military Records from French Flying Service of First World War.
/ref> (13 September 1896 – 24 May 1950), Légion d'honneur, Médaille militaire,

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''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 awa ...

, was a World War I French flying ace credited with 22 victories.

Biography

Early life and military service

Claude Marcel Haeglen was born on 13 September 1896 in Belfort, France.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', pp. 172 - 173 On 15 September 1914, he volunteered for military service as an infantryman. On 27 May 1915, he was forwarded for pilot training. He graduated training with a Military Pilot's Brevet on 10 January 1916. On 10 April, he was posted to ''Escadrille 8''. After service with this reconnaissance squadron, he went to fighter training on 8 February 1917, and was assigned to ''Escadrille 3'' a month later. He shot down two German airplanes, on 27 and 28 May, being wounded on the latter day. During his lengthy convalescence, he was promoted out of the enlisted ranks to become a '' Sous lieutenant'' on 25 January 1918. On 11 March 1918, he was posted to '' Escadrille Spa.100''. Joining in this unit's "wolf pack" tactics, Haeglen would shoot down another 20 enemy aircraft by war's end, including 12

observation balloon An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War ...

After World War I

After the war, he became a test pilot for the Hanriot company and gained a reputation as an aerobatic pilot. In 1931 and 1932 he won the Coupe Michelin long-distance flying competition flying the Lorraine Hanriot LH.41/2 aircraft. On the second one, he set a world record for 2000 km with a speed of 263.900 km/h. Haeglen also became president of the French Civil Pilots Union.

World War II and beyond

Mobilised as

fighter pilot A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and ...

at the beginning of World War II, lieutenant-colonel Marcel Haegelen won his 24th victory flying a Curtiss H 75, shooting down a German airplane on 14 June 1940. After the fall of France in World War II, he became a member of the French Resistance, and was arrested by the Germans in 1943 and jailed in

Bourges Bourges () is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre. It is the capital of the department of Cher, and also was the capital city of the former province of Berry. History The name of the commune derives either from the Bituriges, t ...

. When he died on 24 May 1950 at Val-de-Grace, he held the rank of Colonel, and was a ''Grand officier'' of Légion d'honneur.

Honors and awards

* Médaille Militaire: 23 August 1917 * Chevalier of the Legion d'honneur: 19 July 1918 * Raised to ''Officier'' of the Legion d'honneur: Date uncertain *

with 15 ''palmes'' and three ''etoile de vermeile'': Date(s) uncertain

End notes

References

* Military recor
#1
an
#2
on French DoD website * * * Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). ''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'' London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. .

External links

*
Biography, list of aerial victories, color profile of his planes
1896 births 1950 deaths Grand Officiers of the Légion d'honneur French World War I flying aces French military personnel of World War II Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) French aviation record holders {{France-mil-bio-stub