''Capitaine'' René Doumer (October 31, 1887 – April 26, 1917) was a French

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with seven confirmed aerial victoriesThe Aerodrome websit
René Doumer
Retrieved on 22 June 2014. and four unconfirmed combat claims.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 153

Biography

Born on October 31, 1887, René Doumer was one of the eight children of

Paul Doumer Joseph Athanase Doumer, commonly known as Paul Doumer (; 22 March 18577 May 1932), was the President of France from 13 June 1931 until his assassination on 7 May 1932. Biography Joseph Athanase Doumer was born in Aurillac, in the Cantal ''dépa ...

(President of France 1931–1932) and Blanche Doumer (née Richel). He was a professional lieutenant when

began, having been a

chasseur ''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry () or light cavalry () to denote troops trained for rapid action. History This branch of the French Army orig ...

since 1908. He was seriously wounded on 17 September 1914 in circumstances that won him the ''

Legion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

''. After recovery, he transferred to aviation. His first assignment was to fly 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 ...

for Escadrille 64. He scored his first two victories with this unit, on 19 and 30 March 1916. He transferred to a

Nieuport Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars. History Beginnings Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...

fighter unit next, ''Escadrille 76''. He would rack up five more wins between 23 October 1916 and 28 March 1917. He would also succeed to command of ''Escadrille 76''. He was killed by

Erich Hahn '' Oberleutnant'' Erich Hahn (18 October 1891 – 4 September 1917) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.The Aerodrome webpage on HahRetrieved 29 October 2020 Biography Erich Hahn was born on 18 October 1891 in Leipzig, ...

on 26 April 1917.

List of aerial victories

Sources of information

References

*''Nieuport Aces of World War 1.'' Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. , . * 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. . 1887 births 1917 deaths French World War I flying aces French military personnel killed in World War I Children of presidents of France {{france-mil-bio-stub