Why is he your favorite ace?

[USAWWI]

Hi Everyone,
I have not seen anyone post his name here yet... so I'll do it.

Rene Fonck

I know that he was supposed to be really arrogant, etc., so I am still looking for a good bio on him. But in the end, assuming he only had 75 victories, then he seems to have had by far the best planes bested to planes loss ratio of any pilot in the war.

Narayan

[FrankLuke?]

Sorry for the confusion, the author's name is actually Pardoe.

[stephen]

Originally Posted by Mode One

Stephen, Like I said I would really love to read your book and I only hope that someday I will be able to. Did not mean to cast dispersions and wish you all the success I can!

No problem at all. Its a huge book and the publisher set a price to match, so I'm just trying to make it as available as I can.

[Stephan]

It's possible that Fonck was just very confident. Often this is taken for arrogance. Short of hearing quotes from him, we don't really know.

[UrsusVonForsteck]

Guynemer.

A thin and small guy, looking frail. But a monster in the airplane. His "Vieux Charles", painted in legendary colors, with the "stork" in its fuselage and the french stripes, is perheaps the most beautifull painting of the wwI.

The pilot who came back home when his enemy had broken guns. The pilot that was not killed in action, but flew so high with the Vieux Charles that never come back...

[xjouve]

Originally Posted by USAWWI

Hi Everyone,
I have not seen anyone post his name here yet... so I'll do it.

Rene Fonck

I know that he was supposed to be really arrogant, etc., so I am still looking for a good bio on him. But in the end, assuming he only had 75 victories, then he seems to have had by far the best planes bested to planes loss ratio of any pilot in the war.

Narayan

I vote Col. Fonck as well.

Originally Posted by Stephan

It's possible that Fonck was just very confident. Often this is taken for arrogance. Short of hearing quotes from him, we don't really know.

Or maybe it's an urban myth... I've read a lot about Fonck and never found something in French literature on his supposed arrogance by the people whom known him. Words that appear the most about the man are shy, smart, rigorous, self-disciplined.

It's quite probable that the problem with Fonck is political rather than personal. Making a career in politics, no matter your views, is making the number of your enemies growing. As far as I know, before WW2 Fonck warnings on the poor state of the French Air Force and the possibility of a new war against Germany were politically very incorrect.

During WW2 his views caused him to make enemies in his own side which has turned into pro-nazi. Disillusioned by Petain, he has to leave Vichy not to be arrested. He was eventually arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned in the infamous Drancy camp near Paris because of his help to a Jewish family. Fonck was also in touch with resistance "réseau Hector" through is close friend Heurteaux (another Ace of the Storks).

His loyalty was first questioned after WW2 but he was then awarded the certificate of resistance. Citation reads "Mister René Fonck, a soldier without uniform of the French fighting forces, has taken part, into territory occupied by the enemy, to the glorious fights for the liberation of the country".

IMHO, it looks like Fonck is very badly known. He was a rich and interesting personality.

[Bobrah]

Good day my friend.

It's a question not easy.
For me, best pilots in france were Georges Guynemer and Charles Nungesser, but it's not important to say why.
I like too Rudolf von Eschwege and Coolidge Hamilton.

All pilots are the best.

Georges because he is the best, for honor for enter as pilot and this young age with difficulty for this health...

Nungesser, for this past and the tracks in more hospitals, for again take the wheel and win.
It's very difficult.

It's not easy for me to put movie here on this forum, i have a movie (French museum) when Georges showing his plane Spad to generals in 1917, very very good, a very good pilot.
Thanks.

[Breguet]

No guessing mine but as he doesn't get a mention (sigh) Maj RS Dallas.

As for why there's actually there's a book about it .

Australian Hawk Over The Western Front

He had that ability to make people not only feel at ease but to feel that he was their best friend. Coupled with that he thought about his various combat experiences and wrote a pamphlet on air fighting which he distributed to his pilots. He 'gave away' victories to blood new pilots and worked with them to build their confidence. He talked with his ground crews made them feel appreciated and part of everything he did. He was the only allied pilot, AFAIR, to receive both the American and French Aero Club medals (along with his 2 DSO, DSC, Croix de Guerre avec Palme).

After the amalgamation of the RFC & RNAS 40 Sqn (ex-RFC) received Dallas (ex-RNAS) as their new commander and weren't too pleased. Within a couple of weeks they affectionatly called him "The Admiral" and no less a luminary than Gwillym Lewis said of him "Our new CO, Dallas, is a splendid lad. Tall, good-looking, a wonderful speciman of manhood, very reserved and charming, a veritable flappers idol...........He was considered the star turn of the RNAS and the practical expert adviser...... This spirit of this squadron is simply wonderful now. All due to 'The Admiral' or the 'Old Fool' as we sometimes call him. Everyone adores him and everyone is full out to bring down huns as a result."

That should give you some idea. If you want more you'll have to read the book.

Udet. Tragic figure, brilliant flyer, ruthless killer, loyal and honorable.

[Stephan]

Originally Posted by xjouve

I vote Col. Fonck as well.



Or maybe it's an urban myth... I've read a lot about Fonck and never found something in French literature on his supposed arrogance by the people whom known him. Words that appear the most about the man are shy, smart, rigorous, self-disciplined.

It's quite probable that the problem with Fonck is political rather than personal. Making a career in politics, no matter your views, is making the number of your enemies growing. As far as I know, before WW2 Fonck warnings on the poor state of the French Air Force and the possibility of a new war against Germany were politically very incorrect.

During WW2 his views caused him to make enemies in his own side which has turned into pro-nazi. Disillusioned by Petain, he has to leave Vichy not to be arrested. He was eventually arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned in the infamous Drancy camp near Paris because of his help to a Jewish family. Fonck was also in touch with resistance "réseau Hector" through is close friend Heurteaux (another Ace of the Storks).

His loyalty was first questioned after WW2 but he was then awarded the certificate of resistance. Citation reads "Mister René Fonck, a soldier without uniform of the French fighting forces, has taken part, into territory occupied by the enemy, to the glorious fights for the liberation of the country".

IMHO, it looks like Fonck is very badly known. He was a rich and interesting personality.

Thats very intereting Jouve. Thanks for sharing.

I read something about Mannock receiving bumlove in Turkish prisons & being treated rough, something like that anyways. been awhile since I read books on him. Perhaps this was what gave him the sour demeanor & negative attitude pilots mentioned in the early part of his career. Once a pilot went missing & pilots were commenting on what a good pilot he was, Mannock commented' Well if he was so great, then why ain't he here now? Pretty gruesome thing to say about one's squad mate who probably had just died. Disrespectful in the extreme. Not the sort I would ever want to fly with. In the end the sizzle sizzle Wonk was on him.