Adjutant René Montrion (7 August 1896 – 28 June 1918) was a French
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 ...
during World War I. He was credited with
eleven confirmed aerial and eight unconfirmed victories.
Early life
René Montrion was born in Paris on 7 August 1896.
[
]
Military service
Montrion volunteered for duty while still only 18 years old. After extensive infantry combat experience, which brought a mention in dispatches on 26 September 1915, he transferred to the Army's aviation branch. On 9 October 1916, he began pilot's training at Dijon
Dijon (, ; ; in Burgundian language (Oïl), Burgundian: ''Digion'') is a city in and the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Côte-d'Or Departments of France, department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region in eas ...
. Military Pilot's Brevet No. 5328 was awarded to him on 8 February 1917 before he underwent advanced training at Avord
Avord () is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is east of Bourges, by the banks of the river Yèvre. The commune is home to Avord Air Base, the second largest French Air and Space Force base.
P ...
and Pau. On 6 April 1917, he reported to ''Escadrille 48
''Escadrille SPA.48'' was a unit of the French Air Force during World War I.
Unit history
''Escadrille 48'' was created on 29 March 1915 at Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base, Villacoublay near Paris, flying the Morane-Saulnier L. Active throughout ...
'' as a SPAD pilot. On the 26th, he began a string of ten victories while teamed with such other aces as Jacques Roques
Capitaine Jacques Raphaël Roques (2 August 1897 – 24 May 1988) was a Swiss citizen who flew for the French during World War I, where he was credited with five aerial victories. He returned to military service during World War II, and served wi ...
, Gilbert de Guingand, Armand de Turenne
Colonel Armand Jean Galliot Joseph de Turenne, Marquis de Turenne d'Aubepeyre (1 April 1891 – 10 December 1980) was a French World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories. He went on to serve his nation in the military until 1942.
...
, and René Dousinelle. By his eleventh victory on 17 June 1918, he had been proposed for the ''Légion 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 society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...
''. He was killed in action on 28 June 1918 by Venezuela's pioneer aviator, Carlos Meyer Baldó, before it could be awarded.
Honors and awards
"Incomparable pilot, audacious, adroit and very brave. On 30 September 917
__NOTOC__
Year 917 ( CMXVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* August 20 – Battle of Achelous: A Byzantine expeditionary force (62,000 men) under General Leo Ph ...
he downed two enemy planes, bringing therewith the number of his victories to seven. Cited in orders six times." ''Médaille Militaire'' citation[
He also had been awarded the '']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 seven ''palmes'' and an ''etoile de vermeil''.[
]
External links
*
*
*
Endnotes
References
* ''Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918'' (1992). Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street. , .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montrion, Rene
1896 births
1918 deaths
French flying aces
French military personnel killed in World War I
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Military personnel from Paris