Gustave Douchy

Gustav Douchy
Born 14 May 1893
Bondy
Died 29 July 1943
Allegiance France
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Capitaine
Unit 1e Groupe d'Aeronautique, 1e Groupe d'Aviation, Escadrille 38
Awards Legion d'honneur, Medaille Militaire, Croix de guerre with seven palmes and an etoile de vermeil, Mentioned in Dispatches seven times

Capitaine Gustav Douchy was a French military officer who served in both World Wars. He was a flying ace in World War I, credited with nine confirmed aerial victories.

Contents

World War I

Gustav Douchy was conscripted on 27 November 1913. He was assigned to aviation, and passed through a couple of different units before being stationed at Nancy as an airplane mechanic on 29 January 1914. On 11 May 1915, he began pilot's training at Avord. On 15 July, he received his Military Pilot's Brevet. On 28 August 1915, he was promoted to Caporal. On 24 October 1915, he was assigned to Escadrille 38. On 12 November 1915, he received Pilot's Brevet No. 2514. He was promoted to Sergent on 21 February 1916.[1]

Douchy scored his first German two-seater reconnaissance plane on 25 July 1916, followed by an Albatros on 23 August. The two victories were instrumental in winning him the Medaille Militaire, which was awarded 24 September. On 21 November 1916, he was promoted yet again, to Adjutant.[2]

Douchy resumed scoring on 22 January 1917, downing an Albatros two-seater near Navarin. He accumulated wins one at a time until he tallied his eighth victory on 4 September. He was awarded the Legion d'honneur on 19 October 1917.[3]

On 6 March 1918, Douchy scored his last confirmed victory. Twenty days later, he was then withdrawn from combat and assigned test pilot duty.[4]

Post World War I

On 23 August 1925, Douchy was elevated to Officer in the Legion d'honneur; eventually, he would rise to Commandeur.[5]

He was promoted to Capitaine during World War II, on 1 February 1942. He died as the result of an accident while he was in Madagascar, on 29 July 1943.[6]

Reference

Endnotes

  1. ^ Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 152. 
  2. ^ Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 153. 
  3. ^ Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 153. 
  4. ^ Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 153. 
  5. ^ Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 153. 
  6. ^ Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 153.