François de Labouchère
Encyclopedia
François de Labouchere, born at Saint-Jean-le-Vieux
(Ain) on the 18th September 1917 and killed in air-to-air combat on the 5th September 1942, was a French pilot
of the Second World War.
. He was a cadet pilot at the time of the Battle of France
, during which his father (a cavalry officer) died. He was in Morocco
when the armistice arrived. Going via Gibraltar
, he then returned to England where he met up with his college friend Émile Fayolle.
Appointed as a warrant officer in September 1940, he was posted to No. 85 Squadron in company with Fayolle. In March 1941, promoted to 2nd lieutenant, he was posted to No. 242 Squardron, where Philippe de Scitivaux and Bernard Dupérier were found, still with Fayolle. In July, sacrificing his leave, he was posted at his request to No. 615 Squadron where René Mouchotte
and Jean Maridor were stationed. In November 1941 he was poasted to the Île-de-France fighter group, the No. 340 Free French Squadron, where he became captain and commander of the Versailles squadron on the 1st of August 1942. On the 19th of August, the day of the attack on Dieppe, his friend Fayolle disappeared. On the 5th of September, Labouchère disappeared in turn, during air-to-air combat. His body has never been recovered.
Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, Ain
Saint-Jean-le-Vieux is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
(Ain) on the 18th September 1917 and killed in air-to-air combat on the 5th September 1942, was a French pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
of the Second World War.
Biography
François de Labouchere was one of the first pilots to join the Free French Air ForceFree French Air Force
The Free French Air Force was the air arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War.-Fighting for Free France — the FAFL in French North Africa :...
. He was a cadet pilot at the time of the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, during which his father (a cavalry officer) died. He was in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
when the armistice arrived. Going via Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, he then returned to England where he met up with his college friend Émile Fayolle.
Appointed as a warrant officer in September 1940, he was posted to No. 85 Squadron in company with Fayolle. In March 1941, promoted to 2nd lieutenant, he was posted to No. 242 Squardron, where Philippe de Scitivaux and Bernard Dupérier were found, still with Fayolle. In July, sacrificing his leave, he was posted at his request to No. 615 Squadron where René Mouchotte
René Mouchotte
René Mouchotte was a World War II pilot of the French Air Force, who escaped from Vichy French–controlled Oran to join the Free French forces...
and Jean Maridor were stationed. In November 1941 he was poasted to the Île-de-France fighter group, the No. 340 Free French Squadron, where he became captain and commander of the Versailles squadron on the 1st of August 1942. On the 19th of August, the day of the attack on Dieppe, his friend Fayolle disappeared. On the 5th of September, Labouchère disappeared in turn, during air-to-air combat. His body has never been recovered.
Victories
- On the 23rd June 1941, he shot down an Me 109Messerschmitt Bf 109The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
above DesvresDesvresDesvres is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is a market town, known for its pottery.In 1999 its population was 5,260 inhabitants for the commune and 14,164 inhabitants for the canton.-External links:* *...
. - On the 18th September 1941, he shot down an Me 109 above Ostende.
- On the 19th August 1942, he shot down two Do 217Dornier Do 217The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift . Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber, its design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940...
s above Dieppe.
Decorations
- Knight of the Legion of Honour.
- Companion of the of the Liberation, decreed on the 5th of January 1943.
- Croix de Guerre 1939-45, with four palms.
- Medal of the Resistance, with rosette.
- Commemorative medal of the voluntary services in Free France.
- Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(United Kingdom)
Citations
- "The most difficult thing is not to accomplish one's duty, but to discern it."
- "Live proudly with misfortune, rather than accept shameful fortune."