For the French aviation executive who began his life as Marcel Bloch, see Marcel Dassault
| Marcel Robert Leopold Bloch | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 21, 1890 La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland |
| Died | 29 March 1938 (aged 48) Czechoslovakia |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/branch | Flying services |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1918 |
| Rank | Sous lieutenant |
| Unit | Escadrille No. 3, Escadrille No. 62 |
| Awards | Legion d'Honneur, Medaille Militaire, Croix de Guerre, Russian Order of Saint George and Order of Saint Anne |
Sous Lieutenant Marcel Robert Marcel Bloch was a World War I flying ace who fought on both Eastern and Western Fronts. He was credited with five aerial victories, all scored against German observation balloons.[1]
Bloch was originally assigned to fly a Nieuport for Escadrille 3 but transferred to Escadrille 62 on 25 May 1916. He became a balloon buster ace, destroying five German observation balloons between 26 June and 1 October 1916.[2] In the process of destroying number three, on 3 July 1916, he was seriously wounded twice. He downed his last two on 30 September and 1 October.[3]
In 1917, Bloch was transferred from combat duty to a military mission.[4] On 23 March, he was transferred to the Russian Front. He sustained serious injuries on 8 May 1917, when he suffered a flying accident. After many months in hospital, he was assigned to the French Mission to the United States on 10 September 1918. On 1 March 1919, he returned to France.[5]
Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1855329611, 9781855329614.