Mathieu Tenant de la Tour
| Mathieu Marie Joseph Antoine Tenant de la Tour | |
|---|---|
 Mathieu circa 1910 | |
| Born | Paris, France |
| Died |
17 December 1917 Auchel, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/branch | Cavalry; aviation |
| Rank | Capitaine |
| Unit | Escadrille 57, Escadrille 3 |
| Commands held | Escadrille 26 |
| Awards | Legion d'honneur, Croix de Guerre |
Capitaine Mathieu Marie Joseph Antoine Tenant de la Tour (5 December 1883 - 17 December 1917) was a World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories.[1] He was a prewar pioneer in aviation who went on to score one of the first aerial victories over an observation balloon.
Biography
He was born on 5 December 1883 in Paris. In 1910 he attempted to fly a round trip from Paris to Brussels to win the Automobile Club prize of $20,000, but failed to finish the return flight.[2][3]
Tenant de la Tour began his military service in the cavalry. He became an air force pilot on 6 May 1915 when he was awarded Pilot's Brevet No. 1919. He underwent advanced training, then survived an accident on 30 October 1915. On 29 December 1915, he was assigned to Escadrille 57.[4] On 25 January 1916, flying in a literal fog of war, de la Tour helped down a German kite balloon from an altitude of fifty meters in one of the first air-to-air wins over an observation balloon. The feat earned him the Legion d'honneur.[5]
He was wounded in action on 25 April 1916. After he healed, he was assigned to Escadrille 3 to pilot a Nieuport fighter.[5] During July, August, and September, he claimed another balloon and five enemy airplanes. On 27 December 1916, he had switched to a Spad VII for his eighth kill by downing Gustav Leffers.[1]
In April 1917, after being promoted to Lieutenant, he was given command of Escadrille 26. He scored his last victory on 7 May 1917.[1]
He died in a flying accident on 17 December 1917.[1]
References
- Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-961-1, ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.
- 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.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/viallet.php contains a photo and victory list
- http://www.leshussardsdelauzun.com/portraits.htm has a photo of Tenant de la Tour in cavalry dress uniform on page 9 of 19
- www.leshussardsdelauzun.com/etendard.htm shows Tenant de la Tour on parade with his cavalry regiment prior to World War I
- http://www.aeroconservancy.com/lescigognes.htm contains a famous caricature of Tenant de la Tour and his squadronmates
References
- 1 2 3 4 Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 221.
- ↑ "Paris To Brussels. Aviator Mathieu Fails To Make The Return Trip". Montreal Gazette. October 31, 1910. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
flight from the French capital to this city and return and was compelled by darkness to descend at Bremelcomto fifteen miles from here started again at 7 ...
- ↑ "Mathieu at Brussels". Lewiston Evening Journal. October 29, 1910. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
Mathieu the French aviator who started with a passenger yesterday In a flight to Brussels in an aeroplane but who ...
- ↑ Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. p. 220–221.
- 1 2 Norman Leslie Robert Franks (2000). Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 1-85532-961-1.