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René Paul
Fonck
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| Country: |
France |
| Born: |
27 March 1894 |
| Place of Birth: |
Saulcy-sur-Meurthe |
| Deceased: |
June 1953 |
| Rank: |
Capitaine |
| Service: |
French Air Service |
| Units: |
C47; Spa103 |
| Victories: |
75 |
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| Fonck was the highest scoring
ace for France and the Allies. As a boy growing
up in the foothills of the Vosges, he was fascinated
by stories of men and their flying machines.
Yet when he was conscripted in August 1914, he
refused to serve in the French Air Service, choosing
instead to go to the trenches. By early 1915,
he had changed his mind and began his flight
training in a Penguin at Saint-Cyr. Displaying
an inherent talent for flying, he was soon serving
with Escadrille C47, flying an unarmed Caudron
on reconnaissance missions over the lines. In
April 1917, after more than 500 hours of flight
time, Fonck was assigned to Spa103. Flying the
SPAD S.VII, he developed a reputation for studying
the tactics of his opponents and conserving ammunition
during a dogfight. On two separate occasions,
he shot down six enemy aircraft in one day. As
his fame grew, so did his ego and Fonck never
achieved the admiration and popularity of Georges
Guynemer. Even French ace Claude Haegelen, one
of Fonck's few friends, felt he boasted too much
and too often; but no one could deny that Fonck
was an excellent pilot and superb marksman. |
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