Guynemer

Barrett · 14 May 2002, 03:40 PM

The following was just sent by a particular friend of mine, former naval aviator of the A-4 and F-8 persuasion who knows (and cares) a great deal more about aviation history than most airplane drivers:

"You will recognize that the following is about Vieux Charles. But I kinda feel this way about all lost airmen.
"'He was neither seen nor heard as he fell, his body and his machine were never found. Where has he gone? By what wings did he manage to glide into immortality? Nobody knows: nothing is known. He ascended and never came back, that is all. Perhaps our descendents will say: He flew so high that he could not come down again.'"
L'Illustration, 6 October 1917

pspiranha · 15 May 2002, 05:07 AM

On Aug 20, 1917

Georges Guynemer, using his newest aircraft, a SPAD 13, brought down his 54th adversary.

By now Georges luck had finally run out. His fatigue and always questionable health were causing him to take more and more chances in the air. A number of unsuccessful flights, some resulting in forced landings due to battle damage, followed causing him to become nervous and irritable. On Aug 28th he confided to a friend, " I shall not survive."

On Sept 10, 1917 Georges' premonition of death was realized.

On the last morning of his short life Guynemer took off with a single wingman. At 12,000 ft, northeast of Ypres, he spotted an LVG C.V and attacked. His wingman followed but soon lost sight of him in the clouds. Finally Lieutenant Bozon-Verduraz returned alone to his aerodrome and the long wait commenced.

A month later the German authorities stated that Georges Guynemer had fallen at Poelcapelle and he had been shot down by Leutnant

Kurt Wissemann. It was to be Wissemann's fifth and final victory. 17 days later his plane was shot to pieces in the air by members of *No.56 Squadron, RFC.

When Vieux Charles had fallen a German medical team was sent to the site. A sergeant certified that the pilot had died of a head wound. All identification was removed and the body left at the site.

All traces of Guynemer and his SPAD 13 were obliterated by an artillery barrage that lasted over a fortnight. As a result, the final resting place of Georges Guynemer cannot be reliably pinpointed.

V/R,

David Johnson

Billy_Bishop · 15 May 2002, 03:31 PM

What happened to the items of identification that the Germans removed?

Does anyone know?

VBR,

Al Lowe

gregoire · 15 May 2002, 11:26 PM

The military license was send back to the french army as a proof of Gyunemer death

gregoire · 16 May 2002, 12:26 AM

Oh and by the way Guynemer last fly (according to what is read by the french air force he went away in full sky of glory) took place the 11 september 1917 (bad day this 11 september)

jado · 16 May 2002, 12:49 AM

One extremely interesting article appears in the spring 2000 issue of OTF (vol 15 #1) titled:
Is Guynemer Buried in Rumbeke? by Lothair Vanoverbeke.

16 May 2002, 05:10 AM

I thought him fascinating enough to include in my new book – The Medallion of Justice. For all those interested in obtaining a copy you can get it on the publisher’s site – www.publishamerica.com or call 1-877-333-7422 for a publishers discount. All feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks – Robert E Keating - Author

20 May 2002, 05:10 PM

This is from

Willy Coppens' FLYING IN FLANDERS, chapter VII:

"...The 10th of September, during a battle, the prestigious ace, counting 53 official victories...,

Georges Guynemer landed on my field, at Les Moëres, along the Belgian border...

"Guynemer had trouble with his motor. Our mechanics took care of that. As he was standing on the wheel of his Spad XIII, leaning over the hood with his fur helmet unstrapped, one of our photographers took the marvellous photo of Gerorges Guynemer, the one that we all know -- his last photo."