Capitaine René Doumer was a World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 flying ace

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 seven aerial victories.

René Doumer was a professional lieutenant when World War I began, having been a chasseur since 1908. He was seriously wounded on 17 September 1914 in circumstances that won him the Legion d'Honneur. After recovery, he transferred to aviation. His first assignment was to fly a Caudron

Caudron

The Caudron Airplane Company was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 by brothers Gaston Caudron and René Caudron . It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for the military in both World War I and World War II...

 for Escadrille 64. He scored his first two victories with this unit, on 19 and 30 March 1916. He transferred 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:...

 fighter unit next, Escadrille 76. He would rack up five more wins between 23 October 1916 and 28 March 1917. He would also succeed to command of Escadrille 76. He fell under the guns of Erich Hahn

Erich Hahn

Oberleutnant Erich Hahn was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...

 on 26 April 1917.

Reference

• Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1855329611, 9781855329614.