Chef de Bataillon () is the seniormost non-commissioned officer rank in France and other Francophone countries. Unlike most other countries which use the old European rank system, France uses as its lowest ranking senior officer. While the rank functions of '' ...

'' (later General) Robert Leon Henri Massenet-Royer de Marancour was a French World War I

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 eight aerial victories.The Aerodrome websit

Retrieved on 21 August 2020

Biography

Military service

By 1910, Massenet-Royer de Marancour was already a professional soldier. He was appointed '' Sous lieutenant'' on 1 October of that year. His interest in flying led to him gaining a Civil Pilot's Brevet on 6 February 1914, followed by his qualification for a Military Pilot's Brevet on 23 April. On 27 May 1914, he was sent to command '' Escadrille BLC.5''. On 2 August 1914, he was promoted to ''Capitaine''. Massenet-Royer de Marancour was appointed to 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 13 July 1915.

''Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur''
"Has always accomplished the missions assigned to him with courage and very intelligent discernment; he is an excellent pilot as well as an observer. Because of these two qualities, on 26 September 1914, under difficult circumstances, he provided information about the presence of considerable forces to the rear of the enemy armies and continued updating on a delicate situation. He has undertaken numerous reconnaissances over the enemy." ''Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur'' citation, 13 July 1915

On 1 October 1915, he was entrusted with the command of a fighter squadron, '' Escadrille N.69''. While with this squadron, he shot down his first German airplane on 22 September 1916, followed by two more the next day. On 15 March 1917, he was appointed to command '' Groupe de Combat 14''. Consonant with his greater responsibility in commanding a larger unit, Massenet-Royer de Marancour was promoted to ''

Chef de bataillon () is the seniormost non-commissioned officer rank in France and other Francophone countries. Unlike most other countries which use the old European rank system, France uses as its lowest ranking senior officer. While the rank functions of '' ...

''. He managed his fourth victory on 24 April before taking a bullet through his right foot on 3 May 1917. He would not score again until September, when he shot down two reconnaissance airplanes to become a

He suffered injuries in a take-off accident on 5 March 1918. Nevertheless, he shot down another German airplane on 12 April. On 27 May 1918, he was advanced within the ''Légion d'Honneur'':

''Officier de la Légion d'Honneur'' "Commanding a groupe de combat since April 1917, thanks to his initiative and alacrity. Intelligent, he has made his groupe a fighting unit of the first order, gaining the confidence of his personnel by his ardor and skill in combat. Has downed seven enemy planes. Five citations." Officier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 27 May 1918

Massenet-Royer de Marancour shot down a German airplane on 1 November for his eighth and final aerial victory. In addition to the dual awards to the ''Légion d'Honneur'', Massenet-Royer de Marancour was 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 eight palms. Robert Massenet-Royer de Marancour was appointed to command '' Groupe de Chasse II'' on 3 March 1919. Massenet-Royer de Marancour would eventually retire at the rank of

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

. He died in Paris on 6 August 1969.

Notes

References

* 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. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Marancour, Robert Massenet-Royer De 1880 births 1969 deaths French World War I flying aces