René Simon (8 December 1885 – 21 April 1947) was a
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
aviator.
Biography
He was born in Paris and earned French license #177 from the Aero Club De France. He toured the United States in 1911–12 with the
Moisant International Aviators Moisant may refer to:
*John Bevins Moisant
John Bevins Moisant (April 25, 1868 – December 31, 1910), known as the "King of Aviators," was an American aviator, aeronautical engineer, flight instructor, businessman, and revolutionary. He w ...
. He became known for daring tactics and was called the ''Flying-Fool'' by the public.
[
] What has been termed "the first airplane rescue at sea by another airplane" was made on 14 August 1911. Simon had been flying over
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that ...
in a monoplane when his plane accidentally went into the water but did not sink. Pilot
Hugh Robinson in a Curtiss hydroplane spotted him and offered to fly him back to shore, but Simon, who was comfortable and smoking a cigarette, preferred to wait for a boat to come and tow both him and his plane back to dry land.
In February 1911 the Mexican government engaged Simon to reconnoiter rebel positions near Juarez, Mexico. During World War I he commanded a squadron that taught acrobatic tactics to fighter pilots. Simon was married by the time of World War I and had a commission as a Capitaine(Captain). He and his wife often dined with high-ranking military officials.
René Simon died in
Cannes
Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The ci ...
on 21 April 1947.
See also
*
.
References
Sources
*
1885 births
1947 deaths
Aviators from Paris
French aviation pioneers
French World War I pilots
French military personnel of World War I
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