Emile John Lussier
Encyclopedia
Captain Emile John Lussier was an American flying ace
during World War I. He was accredited with eleven confirmed aerial victories while flying with the Royal Air Force.
in late 1917. Once trained, he was stationed with 73 Squadron as a Sopwith Camel
pilot.
and drove another down out of control. Five days later, he teamed with Norman Cooper
and another pilot to destroy an LVG
reconnaissance plane. On 8 August, he downed another German two-seater, sharing it with Gavin L. Graham
and Robert Chandler
. Then, beginning with the win that made him an ace on 19 August, he ran off a string of seven triumphs over Fokker D.VII
fighters that took him to 11 October 1918. In summary, he had destroyed three Fokker D.VIIs and driven down six others out of control. Of course, there were also the two shared wins over recon planes.
involved with radio training. At war's end, he once again returned to his Maryland farm. He died at that farm, on 11 December 1974.
Lt. Emile John Lussier.
During recent operations this officer has driven down out of control or destroyed seven enemy machines, and, with the aid of two other pilots, has accounted for a further two. Three of these he destroyed in one day. In these combats he has proved himself an officer of very high courage, eager to attack without regard to the enemy's superiority in numbers.
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...
during World War I. He was accredited with eleven confirmed aerial victories while flying with the Royal Air Force.
Early life and service
Emile John Lussier was the son of Joseph Emile and Louise Swalwell Lussier. The younger Lussier was born in Chicago on 10 October 1895, and reared there until age fifteen. In 1910, Joseph Lussier moved to Winnipeg to take up a job constructing railroad stations throughout western Canada, and his teenage son went with him and remained. When World War I began, Emile John Lussier claimed Medicine Hat as his home. He enlisted in the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in late 1917. Once trained, he was stationed with 73 Squadron as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot.
Career as an ace
Lussier did not score his first wins until 25 July 1918, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VIIFokker 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...
and drove another down out of control. Five days later, he teamed with Norman Cooper
Norman Cooper (aviator)
Lieutenant Norman Cooper enlisted during World War I under an alias under the pretense of being a Canadian citizen. He became a flying ace, being accredited with six aerial victories.-References:...
and another pilot to destroy an LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
reconnaissance plane. On 8 August, he downed another German two-seater, sharing it with Gavin L. Graham
Gavin L. Graham
Lieutenant Gavin Lynedoch Graham was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories.Graham served with the Hussars from April 1915 through August 1916 before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He put in 200 hours flight time as an observer in 70 Squadron before...
and Robert Chandler
Robert Chandler (aviator)
Lieutenant Robert North Chandler was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-References:...
. Then, beginning with the win that made him an ace on 19 August, he ran off a string of seven triumphs over 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...
fighters that took him to 11 October 1918. In summary, he had destroyed three Fokker D.VIIs and driven down six others out of control. Of course, there were also the two shared wins over recon planes.
Post World War I
Lussier moved back to the United States after the war, becoming a farmer in Westminster, Maryland and raising four daughters, including Betty Ann Lussier, who became an ATA pilot and early member of the OSS (see "Intrepid Woman, Betty Lussier's Secret War, 1942-1945". As World War II was beginning, and the U.S. was still neutral, he joined the RCAF as a Squadron LeaderSquadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
involved with radio training. At war's end, he once again returned to his Maryland farm. He died at that farm, on 11 December 1974.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Lt. Emile John Lussier.
During recent operations this officer has driven down out of control or destroyed seven enemy machines, and, with the aid of two other pilots, has accounted for a further two. Three of these he destroyed in one day. In these combats he has proved himself an officer of very high courage, eager to attack without regard to the enemy's superiority in numbers.