Among famous French military airmen is one man to whom the FNCV owes special tribute; his name is Captain Georges Guynemer.
He sacrificed his preparatory studies at the Polytechnic and voluntarily joined the military on November 23, 1914 , just a month after he turned 20.
In less than three years, serving within the "Escadrille des Cigognes", "the Ace of Aces", as he was nicknamed, came to accomplish a most dazzling military career. In his special aircraft, "Vieux Charles" (Old Charles), he cruised the skies and accomplished exploits that brought him glory and engraved his name in the sands of time.
On September 11, 1917 , with a personal record of 53 enemy aircrafts downed, he was finally killed while flying the Belgian airspace after he had in the past survived seven instances when he was shot down.
Captain Georges Guynemer, wounded twice in battle, is Officer of the Legion of Honor. He was awarded the war bravery cross (croix de guerre) with 25 bars and was decorated with the military medal.
His famous motto, "Faire face" (Face it), has been given to the Salon Aviation school of Provence.
GUYNEMER Georges
