Paul Barbreau

Sous lieutenant Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau was an Algerian-born French World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.

Early life

Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau was born in Renault, Oran, Algeria on 16 September 1894.^[1] He joined the French Army on his twentieth birthday, 16 September 1914. His initial assignment was as a Soldat de 2e Classe in the 5th Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique. He was promoted to the rank of enlisted Brigadier in November 1914, and to Maréchal-des-logis on 6 February 1915.^[2]

World War I aviation service

Barbreau transferred to aviation in April 1917, reporting to Amberieu for pilot's training. On 14 May, he received Military Pilot's Brevet number 6406. On 1 June, he passed on to Avord for advanced training. After polishing his skills at Pau and Cazaux, he was posted to a Nieuport squadron, Escadrille N154, on 1 October 1917.^[3]

The squadron eventually upgraded its equipment to Spad VII fighters, and subsequently changed its name to Escadrille Spa154. The change fostered Barbreau's success, as he became a balloon buster, destroying eight of the gasbags between 2 June and 8 August 1918. His victories brought him the Médaille militaire and a temporary commission as an officer. He was transferred to Escadrille 164 on 8 August 1918.^[4]

Although his heroics ended at the ceasefire on 11 November 1918, he would not be awarded the resulting decoration of the Légion d'honneur until 6 July 1919. The accompanying citation would mention victories over five enemy airplanes, but there is no individual listing or confirmation of these victories.^[5]

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Paul Barbreau is believed to have flown some version of the Spad to score his aerial victories.^[6]

Post World War I

On 27 May 1922, Paul Barbreau arrived in New York harbor from Marseilles, France aboard the SS France.^[8]

Nothing more is known of his life, except that he died in Marseilles on 2 June 1976.^[9]

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.
• Spad VII Aces of World War I: Volume 39 of Aircraft of the Aces. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-222-9, ISBN 978-1-84176-222-7.
• SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1: Volume 47 of Aircraft of the Aces: Volume 47 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-316-0, ISBN 978-1-84176-316-3.

Endnotes