Paul Y. R. Waddington
Encyclopedia
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 the 2e Groupe d'Aviation. On 27 September, he was assigned to Escadrille 67. He was promoted to Sergent while with this unit, on 11 March 1916.
Waddington reported for pilot's training at Buc
on 3 September 1916. He was awarded Military Pilot's Brevet No. 5254 on 26 January 1917, and forwarded for advanced training at Avord
, and then Pau. He was then posted as a pilot with Escadrille N12 (the "N" denoting the unit's use of Nieuport
s) on 28 March 1917. He teamed with Alfred Auger
and Joseph M. X. de Sévin
for his first victory on 11 May 1917. A promotion to Adjutant
followed on 20 July 1917, with a further promotion to Sous lieutenant on 25 January 1918. He transferred to Escadrille Spa154 (which operated Spad
s), on 6 March 1918. Between 12 April and 22 August 1918, he ran off a string of five victories each over enemy airplanes and observation balloon
s, with all but one of the wins being shared with such fellow French aces as Xavier Moissinac
, Paul Barbreau
, Louis Prosper Gros
, Michel Coiffard
, Jacques Ehrlich
, and balloon buster
Theophile Codemine. On 19 September 1918, he was transferred to his final wartime post, with Escadrille Spa31. He scored his final triumph solo ten days later. On 9 November 1918, he was awarded the Legion d'honneur to accompany his prior awards of the Croix de guerre with five palmes, one etoile de vermeil, one etoile d'argent, and another etoile de bronze. He had also won a Belgian Croix de guerre and a Serbian decoration.
Waddington would later rise to lieutenant colonel and command a school for fighter pilots before World War II.
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 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
Caporal
Caporal may refer to:*Caporal, a type of strong dark tobacco*Caporales, a Bolivian dance*Caporal in French, equivalent to Corporal...
on 21 June 1915; exactly a month later, he was forwarded to the 2e Groupe d'Aviation. On 27 September, he was assigned to Escadrille 67. He was promoted to Sergent while with this unit, on 11 March 1916.
Waddington reported for pilot's training at Buc
Buc
Buc may refer to:* Buc, Yvelines, a commune of the Yvelines département, in France* Buc, Territoire de Belfort, a commune of the Territoire de Belfort département, in France* Búč, a village in south Slovakia* buc, the ISO 639-3 code for the Bushi language...
on 3 September 1916. He was awarded Military Pilot's Brevet No. 5254 on 26 January 1917, and forwarded for advanced training at 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...
, and then Pau. He was then posted as a pilot with Escadrille N12 (the "N" denoting the unit's use of 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:...
s) on 28 March 1917. He teamed with Alfred Auger
Alfred Auger
Capitaine Alfred Victor Robert Auger was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.Auger began the war as an infantry officer; he was wounded in action on 31 August 1914. He transferred to flying service in 1915, only to be wounded again on 8 July. On 22 September 1915, he took...
and Joseph M. X. de Sévin
Joseph M. X. de Sévin
Major General Joseph Marie Xavier de Sévin began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with twelve confirmed aerial victories, as well as thirteen unconfirmed ones. He rose to the rank of Major General while serving until World War II....
for his first victory on 11 May 1917. A promotion to Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
followed on 20 July 1917, with a further promotion to Sous lieutenant on 25 January 1918. He transferred to Escadrille Spa154 (which operated 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:...
s), on 6 March 1918. Between 12 April and 22 August 1918, he ran off a string of five victories each over enemy airplanes and 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....
s, with all but one of the wins being shared with such fellow French aces as 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:...
, Paul Barbreau
Paul Barbreau
Sous lieutenant Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau was an Algerian-born French World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Early life:...
, 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....
, 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...
, and 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....
Theophile Codemine. On 19 September 1918, he was transferred to his final wartime post, with Escadrille Spa31. He scored his final triumph solo ten days later. On 9 November 1918, he was awarded the Legion d'honneur to accompany his prior awards of the Croix de guerre with five palmes, one etoile de vermeil, one etoile d'argent, and another etoile de bronze. He had also won a Belgian Croix de guerre and a Serbian decoration.
Waddington would later rise to lieutenant colonel and command a school for fighter pilots before World War II.
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.