Adolphe Pegoud

margaret smith · 1 August 2006, 04:19 PM

Adolphe Pegoud was the first man to parachute from a plane and the first to do a sustained inverted flight but does anyone know any details about his war record?

R Pope · 1 August 2006, 07:43 PM

Pegoud was the first pilot to have the appelation "Ace" applied to him. 5 victories became the yardstick to claim this status after the French press started referring to him thus.

Barrett · 2 August 2006, 03:23 PM

Margaret: From OTF by Franks & Bailey:

Born 1889, served in Africa, transferred to artillery until released in 1913. Learned to fly that year, made France's first parachute jump in AUgust and next month performed the first loop. (I've seen a film of a pilot parachuting from a Bleriot at the top of a loop--the airplane went its own way!)

When war occurred, he volunteered and flew protection sorties around Paris. Then performed some recons. Promoted to sergeant in Feb. '15.

Victories mostly scored with MF-25.

5 Feb. '15. Three victories, a "scout" (Taube) "forced to fall" and two Aviatiks FTL. His gunner was named Le Rendu.

3 Apr. '15. Aviatik and u/i 2-seater FTL/destroyed?.

11 Jul. '15. Aviatik destroyed?

31 Aug. '15. KIA intercepting German recon plane. The enemy pilot reportedly was Untoff. Kandulski, a prewar student of Pegoud's. ("Once an eagle, towering in its height..." etc, etc.)

Note: Pegoud did not destroy 5 or more e/a but he was the first credited with 5+ victories. The next was

Eugene Gilbert of MS-23 and 49, who did not survive the war.

France's first no-kidding ace was Guynemer, followed by Navarre and Nungesser. (Hoo-ee! How'd you like to keep up with those two for a night on the town!)

margaret smith · 2 August 2006, 04:25 PM

Thanks Barrett for the information on Pegoud! He was quite an interesting person to say the least and it's a shame he didn't survive the war as there's no telling what else he could have accomplished. As for Nungesser and Navarre , yes, they were friends and drinking buddies. From what I've read they were a riot and I doubt if many could keep up with them today!

Pips · 3 August 2006, 02:17 AM

If you can get your hands on a copy of the DVD/Video "Four Years Of Thunder" there is quite a section on him, including the original footage of his parachute jump.

Although he didn't actually jump. He simply pulled the cord and let the 'chute heave him out of the Bleriot.He smashed his leg on the tailplane and badly bruised it. The Bleriot flew in swoops and turns around him, slowly loosing altitude and landing almost at the same time as Pegoud.

My god those guys were crazy! And how I would luv to have been living in that age.