''Capitaine'' Pierre Armand Wertheim, alias Pierre Armand Wertheimer, (17 March 1888 – 30 April 1971) was a French

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 to ...

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 five aerial victories.The Aerodrome website page on Werthei

Retrieved on 10 September 2020

Biography

See also

Aerial victory standards of World War I During World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories. For various reasons, all belligerents engaged in overclaiming aerial victories to a greater or lesser degre ...

Pierre Armand Wertheim was born on 17 March 1888 in Paris.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 227 He began his required military service on 7 October 1909, becoming an infantryman. On 24 September 1911, he was released to reserve duty. The start of World War I saw him recalled to duty. However, on 8 August 1914, he went to hospital. He returned to his regiment in a few days, being tasked as a machine gunner. He served in that role until 30 March 1916, when he was sent for pilot training. Wertheim graduated primary training with his Military Pilot's Brevet on 9 September 1916. After advanced training, he was posted to '' Escadrille N.84'' on 3 February 1917. On 5 December 1917, he was raised from the

enlisted rank An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States ...

s to the rank of temporary '' Sous lieutenant''. Wertheim shot down a German two-seated airplane with his SPAD on 16 February 1918, then downed a couple of Fokker Dr.1 triplanes on 31 March. On 20 April, he became a permanent ''Sous lieutenant''. The next day, he teamed with Lieutenant

Jean Chaput Lieutenant Jean Chaput was a French World War I flying ace credited with 16 aerial victories. Biography Jean Marc Chaput was born on 17 September 1893 in Paris.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United St ...

to down a

Pfalz D.III The Pfalz D.III was a fighter aircraft used by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Air Service) during the First World War. The D.III was the first major original design from Pfalz Flugzeugwerke. Though generally considered inferior to co ...

fighter for a fourth victory. On 3 August 1918, Wertheim was inducted into the ''

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 ...

''. On the 28th, he was given command of his squadron, which had been outfitted with SPADs to become ''Escadrille Spa.84''. On 9 September 1918, he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant. On 10 October 1918, he managed the highly hazardous task of destroying an

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 ...

, to become an

ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or a club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ...

. Pierre Wertheim also served during World War II in the rank of ''Capitaine''.

Honors and awards

* Chevalier of the ''

'' awarded 3 August 1918 * Appointed Officer of the ''Legion d'honneur'' on 24 December 1936 * Decreed Commander of the ''Legion d'honneur'' on 13 July 1961 * ''

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 four ''palmes'' and three ''etoiles de vermeil''The Aerodrome website page on the ''Croix de guerre'

Retrieved on 10 September 2020

End notes

References

* Norman Franks, 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. 1888 births 1971 deaths French World War I flying aces {{France-mil-bio-stub