Paris Air Guard, Again

[Doc]

I guess it is time to resurrect this topic. In previous threads, we have discussed the so-called Paris Air Guard (http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...light=dutrieu), which was supposedly a civilian-staffed organisation set up early in the war to provide early warning of German Air Attacks on Paris-- most forum-ites who commented were very dubious. Helene Dutrieu supposedly flew for this organisation. I was always very dubious of this connection, but I have now found several contemporary references to her flights with this organisation.

Now, I find a reference in Cuneo, "Winged Mars, VolumeII", to the "Director of the Air Service of the Entrenched Camp of Paris". Although no planes were assigned, and few pilots, apparently this organisation made use of 11 aircraft which had been left at the aviation school at St. Cyr after the best ones had been sent to the escadrilles in the field. This organisation was apparently staffed with civilian volunteer pilots. About September 3rd, 1914, General Gallieni (commandant of Paris) apparently wrote to General Joffre: "The aviators at the disposal of the Army of Paris are civilians...."

Does anyone have any more information on this early period, before the assignment of formal escadrilles to the defense of Paris? Is there a list of these volunteer civilian pilots available? Is there any good reference to the actual flying activities of this organisation?

Thanks for any input. Doc

[Doc]

I'd like to bump this one up again--- surely there is someone in this knowledgeable and esteemed group who either knows the answer or knows where I can look it up. Doc

[gilles]

Originally Posted by Doc

This organisation was apparently staffed with civilian volunteer pilots. About September 3rd, 1914, General Gallieni (commandant of Paris) apparently wrote to General Joffre: "The aviators at the disposal of the Army of Paris are civilians...."

A lot of aviators enrolled in the french army during the very first days of the war. In my opinion Gallieni uses the word "civilians" to make a distinction with the "military" aviators, professional soldiers already in operational escadrilles.
All these "civilians" spent the first weeks of the war defending Paris against hypothetical Zeppelin attacks.
War ministry decreed that no voluntary enrollment would take place before the 20th day of war (for logistical reason) except for car drivers, aviation technicians and aviators . Maybe you can have a look to the list of Brevets Militaires issued before august 2nd 1914 (actually I am sure this list includes brevets issued at the beginning of the war), you may find some well-known civil pilots particularly in the later brevets (#450+) brevets_militaires

I don't know any books or article about Paris Air Guard in summer 1914 but some infos can be find in famous aviators biographies.

The Groupe des aviateurs society, led by Jacques Mortane, sent a letter a few days before the war to the air ministry; saying that they and their aircrafts would serve the country. The letter was signed by Roland Garros, Marc Pourpe, Maurice Chevillard, docteur Espanet, Eugène Gilbert, Louis Gaubert. I doubt that any of them made civil flights. Mortane , Garros and Pourpe joined the army (as privates) in the very first days of the war (maybe the others pilots did so but I have not checked).

Another book is "dans l'air et dans la boue" by Joseph Davrichewy (civil brevet 1138, military brevet 511). It is a very good book but certainly not a reference book. But he gives a lot of names of people at Saint Cyr in august 1914.

The only woman he cites is Marthe Richer ,brevet 1369 (better known as Marthe Richard). She tried to flew for the army but was rejected. Instead, she was hired as a spy.
In the book "Marthe Richard, espionne au service de la France", it is written that she founded the Ligue de l'Union Patriotiques des Aviatrices with seven members (no names but maybe it's easy to find these seven ladies).
They asked for non-combat aerial activities within the french army, but without results.

The book "escadrilles françaises 1912/1920" gives some infos on CRP escadrilles in august and september 1914.

Gilles

[Doc]

Gilles, thanks for the information. While your interpretation of the term "civilians" in Gallieni's letter may very well be right, I remain intrigued by the near-contemporary reports which imply that real "civilians" (i.e. not enlisted in the military) flew in this unit-- in particular Helene Dutrieu, who could not have enlisted in the Army under French Law at that time. I am familiar with the list of military brevets, but it doesn't really help me, since I haven't yet been able to find the list of pilots with the Paris unit-- I am guessing that if there were real civilians flying in this unit, they would not have had the military brevets.

I appreciate your references, and will try to obtain them. As regards Marthe Richer, her involvement in this effort is well-documented in her autobiography (as Marthe Richard), "Mon Destin de Femme". She talks about the foundation of the "union patriotique des aviatrices de France", and says that the members were herself, Delaroche, Marvingt, Dutrieu, Herveau, Pallier, and Damedoz. They did offer their aviation services to "transport officers, supplies, and medications"-- needless to say, they were refused service, and by mid-1915, Richer gave up her efforts and became a spy for the French.

But, I am still looking for information on who actually flew for the Paris Air Guard, and what they really did. Thanks for all support. Doc