CNE
Georges Marie Ludovic Jules Guynemer
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 24/12/1894 |
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Place of birth: 16th arrondissement of Paris, Seine, France |
General information
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Last known residence: 112 Rue Saint-Lazare, Compiègne, Oise, France |
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Profession: High School Student |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: France |
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Force: French Air Force |
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Rank: Capitaine |
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Service number: 2216 |
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Enlistment date: 21/11/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Compiègne, Oise, Frankrijk, France |
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Units: — Escadrille SPA.3 (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 11/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Poelcapelle, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Distinctions and medals 6
Points of interest 6
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Airfield | ||
| #5 | Place of death (approximate) | ||
| #6 | Memorial |
My story
Georges Guynemer dreamed of flying as a boy, but his poor health and frail stature played tricks on him. Yet he did not give up. On his fourth attempt, he was accepted into the air force in late 1914.
In 1915, he obtained his licence and was assigned to ‘Les Cigognes’, France's most notorious fighter unit. Guynemer's star rose quickly and he became an aviation hero and ace, with dozens of victories to his name. His experiences were widely reported in the press. The timid youngster struggled with that notoriety, but was nevertheless extolled as a paragon of French bravery.
In mid-July 1917, the ‘Cigognes’ were sent to Bergues to support French efforts in Flanders. A few days before, the overstretched Guynemer had collapsed. The high casualties and nerve-wracking air battles were taking their toll. His feverish eyes were deep, his jaws sunken and his skin pale. He was paper-thin, enigmatically shrunken.
Meanwhile, Guynemer's fame had reached unprecedented heights. Fearful of losing their golden boy, his superiors promoted him to commander, hoping to keep him grounded.
On 11 September 1917, averse to much paperwork, Guynemer took off again towards the Flemish front. Over Poelkapelle, he disappeared into the clouds and was never seen again. His death, like his life, remained shrouded in legend. After the war, a monument was erected in his honour in Poelkapelle, featuring the stork, the emblem of his squadron.
In 1915, he obtained his licence and was assigned to ‘Les Cigognes’, France's most notorious fighter unit. Guynemer's star rose quickly and he became an aviation hero and ace, with dozens of victories to his name. His experiences were widely reported in the press. The timid youngster struggled with that notoriety, but was nevertheless extolled as a paragon of French bravery.
In mid-July 1917, the ‘Cigognes’ were sent to Bergues to support French efforts in Flanders. A few days before, the overstretched Guynemer had collapsed. The high casualties and nerve-wracking air battles were taking their toll. His feverish eyes were deep, his jaws sunken and his skin pale. He was paper-thin, enigmatically shrunken.
Meanwhile, Guynemer's fame had reached unprecedented heights. Fearful of losing their golden boy, his superiors promoted him to commander, hoping to keep him grounded.
On 11 September 1917, averse to much paperwork, Guynemer took off again towards the Flemish front. Over Poelkapelle, he disappeared into the clouds and was never seen again. His death, like his life, remained shrouded in legend. After the war, a monument was erected in his honour in Poelkapelle, featuring the stork, the emblem of his squadron.
Sources 4
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Les registres matricules et listes cantonales numérisés (classes 1878-1924) (Archives départementales de l'Oise, Beauvais). https://archives.oise.fr/ Sources used |
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Mason H., High Flew The Falcons. The French Aces of World War I (Philadelphia and New York, J.B. Lippincott Company, 1965). Sources used |
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O’Connor M., Airfields & Airmen. Ypres (Barnsley, Leo Cooper, 2001). Sources used |
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Vanacker L., Een late krans voor Guynemer (Koksijde, Luc Vanacker, 2010). Sources used |
More information 2
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e3ebc976-f9d2-400f-96ad-a334accda696 |
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Mémoire des Hommes https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/m00523ab6bd984f4.moteur=arko_default_670f920646a08 |