Adolphe Pegoud

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Adolphe Célestin Pégoud (June 13, 1889 - August 31, 1915) was a well known French aviator who became the first fighter ace.

Pegoud served in the French Army from 1907 to 1913. Immediately thereafter he began flying, earned his pilot's certificate, and in a few months had performed the first loop and made the first parachute jump from an airplane. He also became a popular instructor of French and other European fledglings.

At the start of the First World War Pegoud volunteered for flying duty and was immediately accepted as an observation pilot. On 5 February 1915 he and his gunner were credited with shooting down two German aircraft and forcing another to land. Soon he was flying single-seat aircraft and claimed two more victories in April. His sixth success came in July.

It is not known how many of Pegoud's victories involved destruction of enemy aircraft, as early air combat was rare enough to warrant credit for a forced landing. However, it is certain that Pegoud, rather than Roland Garros (three documented victories), was the first pilot to achieve acedom of any sort.

On 31 August Pegoud was shot down while intercepting a German reconnaissance aircraft. He was 26 years old, ironically the victim of one of his prewar students. The same German crew later dropped a funeral wreath above French lines.

[edit] Trivia

• The first Air to Air victory was by Pyotr Nesterov on 26 August 1914 {old style calendar};
• The First French Air to Air victory was by Sgt Franz and Sol. Quenault on 5 October 1914.^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ French first air victory – The Aerodrome Forum

• Norman Franks & Frank Bailey - Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. (1992).