World War I Ace. In 1914, at age 20, he joined the French Aviation Service as an apprentice mechanic at Pau Airfield. After successful flight training, he was assigned to Escadrille MS3, Vauciennes and acquired his Morane type L monoplane, named "Vieux Charles" (Old Charlie). During World War I he quickly established himself as a premier fighter pilot and became an ace with his fifth victory in February 1916, for which he was promoted to Lieutenant. By the end of the year he had scored 25 kills and was promoted to Capitaine. As his fame in aerial combat grew, he was lionized by the French as a national hero. By July 1917 he had become the first French ace to attain 50 victories and was the first allied pilot to shoot down a German Gotha G bomber. On September 11, 1917, while on a mission, he separated from his wingman to attack a German observation plane and was killed in the ensuing fight. Neither the wreckage of his airplane or his body were ever found and the Germans claimed he was shot down by artillery shells in battle. At the time of his death he was France's number one ace with 53 victories, and was the country's number two ace by the war's end. In his honor, the Belgians erected the Georges Guynemer Memorial in the center of Poelkapelle in 1923. Another monument to Georges Guynemer stands outside the HQ Armée de l'air in Paris.

World War I Ace. In 1914, at age 20, he joined the French Aviation Service as an apprentice mechanic at Pau Airfield. After successful flight training, he was assigned to Escadrille MS3, Vauciennes and acquired his Morane type L monoplane, named "Vieux Charles" (Old Charlie). During World War I he quickly established himself as a premier fighter pilot and became an ace with his fifth victory in February 1916, for which he was promoted to Lieutenant. By the end of the year he had scored 25 kills and was promoted to Capitaine. As his fame in aerial combat grew, he was lionized by the French as a national hero. By July 1917 he had become the first French ace to attain 50 victories and was the first allied pilot to shoot down a German Gotha G bomber. On September 11, 1917, while on a mission, he separated from his wingman to attack a German observation plane and was killed in the ensuing fight. Neither the wreckage of his airplane or his body were ever found and the Germans claimed he was shot down by artillery shells in battle. At the time of his death he was France's number one ace with 53 victories, and was the country's number two ace by the war's end. In his honor, the Belgians erected the Georges Guynemer Memorial in the center of Poelkapelle in 1923. Another monument to Georges Guynemer stands outside the HQ Armée de l'air in Paris.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith