Paul Barbreau
Encyclopedia
Sous lieutenant Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau was an Algerian-born French World War I flying ace
credited with eight aerial victories.
, Algeria on 16 September 1894. He joined the French Army
on his twentieth birthday, 16 September 1914. His initial assignment was as a Soldat
de 2e Classe in the 5th Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique
. He was promoted to the rank of enlisted Brigadier
in November 1914, and to Maréchal-des-logis on 6 February 1915.
for advanced training. After polishing his skills at Pau
and Cazaux
, he was posted to a Nieuport
squadron, Escadrille N154, on 1 October 1917.
The squadron eventually upgraded its equipment to Spad VII fighters, and subsequently changed its name to Escadrille Spa154. The change fostered Barbreau's success, as he became a balloon buster
, destroying eight of the gasbags between 2 June and 8 August 1918. His victories brought him the Medaille Militaire
and a temporary commission as an officer. He was transferred to Escadrille 164 on 8 August 1918.
Although his heroics ended at the ceasefire on 11 November 1918, he would not be awarded the resulting decoration of the Legion d'honneur
until 6 July 1919. The accompanying citation would mention victories over five enemy airplanes, but there is no individual listing or confirmation of these victories.
Paul Barbreau is believed to have flown some version of the Spad
to score his aerial victories.
.
Nothing more is known of his life, except that he passed away in Marseilles on 2 June 1976.
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...
credited with eight aerial victories.
Early life
Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau was born in Renault, OranOran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, Algeria on 16 September 1894. He joined the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
on his twentieth birthday, 16 September 1914. His initial assignment was as a Soldat
Soldat
Soldat is a Polish 2D multiplayer game for Windows. It is a side-scroller inspired by Liero and Scorched Earth, combined with elements from Counter-Strike and Worms. The game is shareware...
de 2e Classe in the 5th Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique
Chasseurs d'Afrique
The Chasseurs d'Afrique were a light cavalry corps in the French Armée d'Afrique . First raised in the 1830s from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria, they numbered five regiments by World War II...
. He was promoted to the rank of enlisted Brigadier
Brigadier
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....
in November 1914, and to Maréchal-des-logis on 6 February 1915.
World War I aviation service
Barbreau transferred to aviation in April 1917, reporting to Amberieu for pilot's training. On 14 May, he received Military Pilot's Brevet number 6406. On 1 June, he passed on to AvordAvord
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...
for advanced training. After polishing his skills at Pau
Pau
Pau is a commune on the northern edge of the Pyrenees, capital of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département in France. It was also the capital of the Béarn region. It forms the communauté d'agglomération of Pau-Pyrénées with 13 neighbouring communes to carry out local tasks together. The Université de...
and Cazaux
Cazaux
Cazaux is a commune of the Ariège department in southwestern France....
, he was posted to 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:...
squadron, Escadrille N154, on 1 October 1917.
The squadron eventually upgraded its equipment to Spad VII fighters, and subsequently changed its name to Escadrille Spa154. The change fostered Barbreau's success, as he became a balloon buster
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....
, destroying eight of the gasbags between 2 June and 8 August 1918. His victories brought him the Medaille Militaire
Médaille militaire
The Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
and a temporary commission as an officer. He was transferred to Escadrille 164 on 8 August 1918.
Although his heroics ended at the ceasefire on 11 November 1918, he would not be awarded the resulting decoration of the Legion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
until 6 July 1919. The accompanying citation would mention victories over five enemy airplanes, but there is no individual listing or confirmation of these victories.
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War I
During World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
Paul Barbreau is believed to have flown some version of the 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:...
to score his aerial victories.
| No. | Date/time | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 June 1918 | German 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.... |
Destroyed | Igny l'Abbesse | Victory shared with Paul Waddington Paul Y. R. Waddington Sous Lieutenant Paul Yvan Robert Waddington was a French World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.Waddington joined the 141e Regiment d'Infanterie on 15 December 1914 as a Soldat de 2e classe. He was promoted to Caporal on 21 June 1915; exactly a month later, he was forwarded to... |
| 2 | 5 June 1918 @ 1800 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Trigny Trigny Trigny is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is more commonly known as Bonsoir.... , France |
Victory shared with Louis Prosper Gros Louis Prosper Gros Sous Lieutenant Louis Prosper Gros became a flying ace during World War I, scoring eight confirmed aerial victories, and possibly a ninth. He continued in aviation after the war, and defended his nation again during World War II.... , Paul Waddington |
| 3 | 30 June 1918 @ 0650 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Beuvardes Beuvardes Beuvardes is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.... , France |
Victory shared 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... , Jacques Ehrlich Jacques Ehrlich Sous Lieutenant Jacques Louis Ehrlich was a World War I flying ace who was one of the leading balloon busters of the war.He enlisted in the French army on 29 May 1913. Three and a half years later, in December 1916, he transferred to aviation. In May 1917, he was brevetted a pilot. Two months... |
| 4 | 17 July 1918 @ 0845 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Beine Beine Beine is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.... , France |
Victory shared with Paul Waddington |
| 5 | 18 July 1918 @ 1915 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Forêt-de-Ris | Shared victory |
| 6 | 1 August 1918 @ 1740 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Caurel Caurel, Marne Caurel is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.... , France |
Victory shared with Paul Waddington and another French pilot |
| 7 | 3 August 1918 @ 1935 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | North of Somme-Py, France | Victory shared with Michel Coiffard |
| 8 | 3 August 1918 @ 1937 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | North of Somme-Py, France | Victory shared with Michel Coiffard |
Post World War I
On 27 May 1922, Paul Barbreau arrived in New York harbor from Marseilles, France aboard the SS FranceSS France
SS France may refer to:* SS France , a French liner scrapped in 1936* SS France , a French liner; later renamed SS Norway; sent to Alang, India and scrapped in late 2008....
.
Nothing more is known of his life, except that he passed away in Marseilles on 2 June 1976.