Georges Guynemer (December 24, 1894 - September 11, 1917) was a top French fighter ace during World War I and a national hero at the time of his death.

Georges Marie Ludovic Jules Guynemer was born to a wealthy Compiègne family and experienced an often sickly childhood. Nevertheless, he succeeded as an aviator through his enormous drive and self-confidence. He was originally rejected for military service, but was accepted for training as a mechanic in late 1914. With determination, he gained acceptance to pilot training, joining Escadrille MS.3 in June 1915. He flew Morane Saulnier aeroplanes, experiencing both victory and defeat.

Upon joining the elite Escadrille N.3 in 1916, Guynemer quickly established himself as one of France's premier fighter pilots. He became an ace by his fifth victory in February 1916, and was promoted to lieutenant in March. At the year's end, his score had risen to 25. Capitaine Brocard, Commander of [Escadrille N.3] (at that time), described Guynemer as "...my most brilliant Stork." http://www.wwimodeler.com/storks/guy/guy.html Less than a year later, Guynemer was promoted to captain and commander of the Storks squadron.

On 8 February1917, Guynemer became the first Allied pilot to shoot down a German Gotha bomber.

His greatest month was May 1917, when he downed seven German aircraft. He became the first French ace to attain 50 victories at the end of July. Guynemer was lionized by the French press and became a national hero. The French government encouraged the publicity to boost morale and take the people's minds off the terrible losses in the trenches. Guynemer was embarrassed by the attention, but his shyness only increased the public's appetite to know everything about him. His 43rd victory on 26 May 1917 may have been against Ernst Udet's wingman [Eberhard Haenisch] in Jasta 15.

Guynemer failed to return from a combat mission on 11 September, 1917. At 08:30, with young pilot Bozon-Verduraz, Guynemer took off in his Spad XIII S.504 n°2, "Vieux Charles". His mission was to patrol the Langemark area. At 09:25, near Poelkapelle, Guynemer sighted a lone Rumpler, a German observation plane, and dived towards it. Bozon-Verduraz saw several Fokkers above him, and by the time he had shaken them off his leader was nowhere in sight, so he returned alone. Guynemer never came back.

Neither the wreckage of his airplane, his body, nor his personal effects were ever found, but the Germans announced that he had been shot down by Lt. Kurt Wissemann of Jasta 3, who in turn was killed in action 17 days later. French schoolchildren of the time were taught that Guynemer had flown so high he couldn't come back down again. At the time of his death, he had achieved 53 victories. In all, he had been shot down seven times. It is not clear if he was killed in the crash of his plane or if he survived only to be shot on the ground in No-Man's-Land. Some speculate that his aircraft may have been blown apart by artillery shells.

Guynemer's death was a profound shock to France; nevertheless, he remained an icon for the duration of the war. Only 22 at his death, he continued to inspire the nation with his advice, "Until one has given all, one has given nothing."

* World War I * Flying ace * Missing in action * List of people who have disappeared

* Georges Guynemer's career described at WWIAviation.com * Detailed description of Georges Guynemer's career at WWIModeler.com * Georges Guynemer - "Who's Who" at FirstWorldWar.com * Georges Guynemer - "a beloved French Ace" at Acepilots.com * Georges Guynemer page at theaerodrome.com

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