Zhu Binhou (; 4 December 1885 – 1940?), also known as Etienne Tsu, was an early Chinese aviator. Born in
Shanghai
Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
, Zhu was a son of the prominent banker
Zhu Zhiyao (
朱志尧, a.k.a. Nicolas Tsu). He left for France to study mechanical engineering at the
Université Lille 1
The Lille 1 University of Science and Technology (, USTL) was a French university located on a dedicated main campus in Villeneuve d'Ascq, near Lille (Hauts-de-France - Métropole Européenne de Lille, European Metropolis of Lille), with 20, ...
, graduating in 1903. As he was fascinated with the design and operation of automobiles and ships, 1903 also brought about the revolutionary advent of the
controlled, sustained, and powered heavier-than-air machines, which had driven Zhu Binhou into this new frontier of
human flight.
Zhu Binhou gained his aviator's license, issued by the
Aero Club de France, in 1914 at the beginning of
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 ...
, and joined, as part of the
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion (, also known simply as , "the Legion") is a corps of the French Army created to allow List of militaries that recruit foreigners, foreign nationals into French service. The Legion was founded in 1831 and today consis ...
,
Escadrille SPA.37 of the
French Air Service
The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the Fr ...
in 1915; he is credited with
downing five German aircraft and
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 ...
s, and four probables between 10 July 1916 and 7 January 1917.
Demobilized in 1919, he returned to China where he took part in the creation of the Chinese Flying school which was equipped with French machines. A Colonel in 1925, he died in Shanghai in 1940.
See also
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Feng Ru
Feng Ru (; 1883–1912), also known as Fung Joe Guey (), was a pioneering Chinese aviator and aircraft designer.
Life and career
Born in Enping, Guangdong, Feng moved to the United States at the age of twelve, living and working in various part ...
*
Li Ruyan
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Jianqiao air base
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Civil and military/warlord aircraft in China pre-1937
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Air battles of the War of Resistance/WWII 1937-45
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Development of the Nationalist Air Force of China; the combined effort of overseas Chinese volunteer pilots and former warlord air force units joining the central authority of the Republic of China Air Force for the War of Resistance/World War II against the Imperial Japanese invasion from 1937 to 1945
References
Bibliography
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhu, Binhou
1885 births
1940 deaths
Date of death missing
Year of death uncertain
People from Shanghai
Chinese aviators
French World War I flying aces
Officers of the French Foreign Legion
Aviation pioneers