Anyone care to translate this Croix de Guerre?

wristwister · 1 January 2008, 08:09 PM

Here's the text on my grandfather's Croix de Guerre certificate. I'd love to know what it says, but I'm far too lazy to learn french. Anyone care to translate this for me? Thanks.

Doc · 2 January 2008, 01:05 AM

Good morning. Basically, it says: "Citation-- for the order of the Army.
1Lieutenant Moore, Robert, Pilot of squadron BR 29.
Pilot-Officer of great value, possessing at the same time a magnificant will (or dedication) and a remarkable coolness (cool-headedness, implied). On the 14th of June 1918, in the course of a free combat above enemy lines, his observer having been killed he was forced to descend 5000 meters, almost to the ground, by two enemy airplanes machine-gunning him without let-up (or incessantly). Although wounded by three bullets and having his aircraft severely damaged, he succeeded thanks to his ability and courage, in returning to our lines. order number etc." Doc

ONEALM · 2 January 2008, 06:38 AM

Dan -

Beautiful citation. Nice to see one of these in the flesh, hand written and signed.

Thanks to Doc too for confirming the citation translation. Looks like what aappears in New England Aviators is correct.

Thanks for sharing that.
Mike

wristwister · 2 January 2008, 07:13 AM

Thanks Doc!

Interesting, in my grandfathers long letter where he details the whole bombing mission and being shot down, he mentions being pursued and shot at by a German pilot nearly all the way down, but he mentions nothing of TWO pursuing enemy airplanes! It's also interesting that the persuit was abandoned before my Grandfather was a confirmed kill, allowing him to hobble what was left of his plane back across friendly lines.

ONEALM · 2 January 2008, 08:49 AM

The citations don't always exactly mesh precisely with reality. Remember the fellow writing this was probably looking at notes supplied by 1) French crews who saw your g'father's fall 2) those same notes having passed by the CO's desk and possibly amended and then 3) his own imaginations, all while sitting comfortably in Paris or somewhere.

While I'm sure they tried in most cases to keep things straight I've seen some interesting creations which do not match first person account. Most were probably simply based on misunderstanding not on intentional embellishment, but it's always prudent to take the citations with a grain of salt. If we are splitting hairs, the CO mentioned a fall from 4800 meters, while the citation writer calls it 5000.

In either case - 4800, 5000 - one German fighter or two - the general scenario is the same and the story in no way diminished if it was *only* 4800 meters and *only* one (15 victory ace) German following him down. I suspect your grandfather was pretty busy just trying to get his airplane back under control and probably had little time to take a head count of the number of Germans chasing him.

Lastly, and this may be the most important thing even if the citation writer followed everything to the letter and the incident was perfectly clearly described without any ambiguity, if you've got 5 eyewitnesses to an event, I can virtually guarantee there will be 5 different accounts. All will be "truthful" i.e. - the truthful recounting of what each of the eyewitnesses saw - but they may not all be factual.

If there's a painting to be done, I'm certain their would be two Germans - makes a better balanced composition !

Well, before I start wandering too far off the original path.....