Julien Guertiau

Lieutenant Julien Anatole Guertiau was a cavalryman turned aviator who became a flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eight aerial victories.

Early life and service

Julien Anatole Guertiau was born in Meunet-Planches, France on 13 September 1885. He reported for his mandatory military service in 1907. He was released from active duty as a non-commissioned officer.^[1]

World War I

A double motored Caudron flying above the region of Reims (France) about 1917. Julien Guertiau used to fly with a similar aircraft.

On 2 August 1914, he was mobilized from the reserves for military service in World War I. His initial assignment was to the 7e Regiment de Hussards. On 4 November 1915, he transferred to aviation service. After training at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, he received his military pilot's license, Brevet No. 3036, on 20 March 1916.^[2]

After undergoing advanced training, on 23 June 1916 he was assigned to Escadrille C43 as a Caudron pilot. He scored his first aerial victory while flying this model two-seater on 29 September 1916; this win brought him his first mention in dispatches on 29 October. He was then promoted to Adjutant on 21 November 1916.^[3]

Rather unusually, he would run his victory string while flying the unwieldy two-seater Caudron to four. His fourth victory, in which his plane was riddled by bullets as he engaged and shot down a German plane attacking a French observation balloon, earned him the Medaille Militaire.^[4]

Following these successes, he was retrained as a fighter pilot, beginning on 5 November 1917. He was commissioned as a sous lieutenant on 23 November. On 6 December 1917, he was assigned to Escadrille 97 as a Spad pilot. He would score another four victories while with this squadron. On 9 September 1918, he was awarded the Legion d'honneur. On 25 September, he was promoted to lieutenant. On 3 October, he was appointed to command the squadron.^[5]

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Post World War I

Guertiau went on to serve in French Indo-China in 1921.^[8]

Guertiau remained interested in aviation after his return to France. He registered as part owner of a Guerchais-Roche T.12 under designation F-AIYL on 1 March 1929; his home of record was given as Etampes.^[9]

Nothing more is known of Julien Anatole Guertiau except that he died on 26 April 1954.^[10]

See also

• http://albindenis.free.fr/Site_escadrille/escadrille043.htm has a photograph of Guertiau and his mechanics posed in front of their Caudron in Escadrille 43.
• http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpages14-18.mesdiscussions.net%2Fpages1418%2Faviation-1914-1918%2Flibellule-escadrille-43-sujet_844_1.htm&lp=fr_en&.intl=us&fr=yfp-t-701 is a Babelfish translation of the above photo and text.

References

• 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, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.

Endnotes