Auguste Lahoulle
Encyclopedia
General Auguste Joseph Marie Lahoulle began his military career as a World War I flying ace
. He was a double ace during the war, credited with ten confirmed aerial victories.
and sent to École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
as an Aspirant
on 12 October 1911. He was subsequently commissioned as a Sous lieutenant and assigned to heavy cavalry. He became one of the first casualties of the war, suffering a serious wounding and medical evacuation on 9 August 1914. On 1 October, he was promoted to Lieutenant; on 21 December, he returned to combat duty. Nine days later, he was appointed a Chevalier in the Legion d'Honneur.
On 13 April 1916, he was seconded to aviation duty to train as an observer/gunner. On 19 May, he was assigned to Escadrille 48 as a Nieuport
observer. On 4 January 1917, he transferred to another Nieuport unit, Escadrille 23; on the 28th, he was sent to Avord
as a pilot trainee. On 18 May 1917, he received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 4817 before being forwarded for advanced training at Pau on 24 July. On 18 September 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille N12 ('N' denoting unit's use of Nieuport aircraft), only to transfer back to Escadrille N48 on 16 October.
On 19 January 1918, he was transferred yet again, to Escadrille 57 as a Spad
pilot. Two months later, on 23 March, Lahoulle teamed with Marcel Haegelen and Jean Chaput
to shoot down and capture balloon busting
ace Erich Thomas
in his Albatros D.V
; the French trio also downed a second Albatros accompanying Thomas. Two days later, Lahoulle was selected to command Escadrille 154. He opened his account with them on 1 April, teaming with Xavier Moissinac
to destroy an observation balloon
over Fresnoy-en-Chaussee
for a third victory. Three more Germans, all flying Fokker D.VII
s, fell under Lahoulle's guns in May, Moissinac assisting with two of them. On 16 June, Lahoulle destroyed another German fighter plane. Then, on 15 July, in a long day's audacious combat, he flew with Michel Coiffard
and a couple of other French pilots to destroy three German balloons in the vicinity of Goussancourt
. In the process, Lahoulle was again seriously wounded and evacuated. He was then elevated within the Legion d'Honneur to Officier on 5 August 1918. On 1 November 1918, he was selected for duty with the Under-Secretary of State for Aviation.
, where he himself had trained. He was elevated once more within the Legion d'Honneur, to Commandeur. During World War II, in 1942, he commanded the fighters stationed at Rabat, Morocco, reaching his final rank of General in the process.
Auguste Joseph Marie Lahoulle passed away in Rabat on 17 April 1959.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He was a double ace during the war, credited with ten confirmed aerial victories.
Service before and during World War I
Auguste Lahoulle began a four year enlistment on 10 October 1910. He was promoted to enlisted BrigadierBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
and sent to École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
as an Aspirant
Aspirant
Aspirant is a military rank in the Canadian Navy, French military, Brazilian military, Romanian Navy and Polish Police.-Canadian Navy:Similar to the French usage, the Canadian Navy uses the French-language rank of "Aspirant de marine" to denote a junior officer under training. The same rank in the...
on 12 October 1911. He was subsequently commissioned as a Sous lieutenant and assigned to heavy cavalry. He became one of the first casualties of the war, suffering a serious wounding and medical evacuation on 9 August 1914. On 1 October, he was promoted to Lieutenant; on 21 December, he returned to combat duty. Nine days later, he was appointed a Chevalier in the Legion d'Honneur.
On 13 April 1916, he was seconded to aviation duty to train as an observer/gunner. On 19 May, he was assigned to Escadrille 48 as a Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
observer. On 4 January 1917, he transferred to another Nieuport unit, Escadrille 23; on the 28th, he was sent to Avord
Avord
Avord is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A farming area comprising the village and several hamlets situated by the banks of the river Yèvre, some east of Bourges at the junction of the D976 with the D36 and the D71 roads...
as a pilot trainee. On 18 May 1917, he received Military Pilot's Brevet No. 4817 before being forwarded for advanced training at Pau on 24 July. On 18 September 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille N12 ('N' denoting unit's use of Nieuport aircraft), only to transfer back to Escadrille N48 on 16 October.
On 19 January 1918, he was transferred yet again, to Escadrille 57 as a Spad
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...
pilot. Two months later, on 23 March, Lahoulle teamed with Marcel Haegelen and Jean Chaput
Jean Chaput
Lieutenant Jean Chaput was a World War I flying ace credited with 16 aerial victories. He served in the army infantry beginning in 1913. He transferred to aviation in 1914. He qualified as a pilot by February 1915, was assigned to Escadrille 28, and scored his first victory on 12 June 1915 while...
to shoot down and capture balloon busting
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
ace Erich Thomas
Erich Thomas
Leutnant Erich Thomas was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. Nine of these were observation balloons he destroyed.Thomas was assigned to Jasta 9 in December 1917. He shot down his first enemy observation balloon on 3 January 1918.He carried on his career as a balloon...
in his Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
; the French trio also downed a second Albatros accompanying Thomas. Two days later, Lahoulle was selected to command Escadrille 154. He opened his account with them on 1 April, teaming with Xavier Moissinac
Xavier Moissinac
Marechal-des-Logis Xavier Jean-Marie Louis Moissinac was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Reference:...
to destroy an observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
over Fresnoy-en-Chaussee
Fresnoy-en-Chaussée
Fresnoy-en-Chaussée is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated southeast of Amiens just by the D934 road-Population:-External links:*...
for a third victory. Three more Germans, all flying Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s, fell under Lahoulle's guns in May, Moissinac assisting with two of them. On 16 June, Lahoulle destroyed another German fighter plane. Then, on 15 July, in a long day's audacious combat, he flew with Michel Coiffard
Michel Coiffard
Michel Joseph Callixte Marie Coiffard was one of the leading French flying aces of the World War I. He was notable for his success as a balloon buster shooting down enemy observation balloons, which were usually heavily defended by anti-aircraft machine guns and artillery and by fighter planes...
and a couple of other French pilots to destroy three German balloons in the vicinity of Goussancourt
Goussancourt
Goussancourt is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
. In the process, Lahoulle was again seriously wounded and evacuated. He was then elevated within the Legion d'Honneur to Officier on 5 August 1918. On 1 November 1918, he was selected for duty with the Under-Secretary of State for Aviation.
Post World War I service
Lahoulle remained in the profession of arms. He ran the school for fighters at DijonDijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, where he himself had trained. He was elevated once more within the Legion d'Honneur, to Commandeur. During World War II, in 1942, he commanded the fighters stationed at Rabat, Morocco, reaching his final rank of General in the process.
Auguste Joseph Marie Lahoulle passed away in Rabat on 17 April 1959.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/lahoulle.php
- http://www.wwiaviation.com/aces/ace_Lahoulle.html
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/lahoulle.php
Reference
- Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, 9780948817540.