Paul Barbreau
| Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau | |
|---|---|
| Born |
16 September 1894 Renault, Oran, Algeria |
| Died |
2 June 1976 (aged 81) Marseilles, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Sous lieutenant |
| Unit | Escadrille 154, Escadrille 164 |
| Awards | Légion d'honneur, Médaille militaire, Croix de Guerre with four Palmes, an Étoile de vermeil, an Étoile d'argent, and an Étoile de bronze |
Sous lieutenant Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau was an Algerian-born French World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.
Early life
Paul Augustin Edouard Barbreau was born in Renault, Oran, Algeria on 16 September 1894.[1] He joined the French Army on his twentieth birthday, 16 September 1914. His initial assignment was as a Soldat de 2e Classe in the 5th Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique. He was promoted to the rank of enlisted Brigadier in November 1914, and to Maréchal-des-logis on 6 February 1915.[2]
World War I aviation service
Barbreau transferred to aviation in April 1917, reporting to Amberieu for pilot's training. On 14 May, he received Military Pilot's Brevet number 6406. On 1 June, he passed on to Avord for advanced training. After polishing his skills at Pau and Cazaux, he was posted to a Nieuport squadron, Escadrille N154, on 1 October 1917.[3]
The squadron eventually upgraded its equipment to Spad VII fighters, and subsequently changed its name to Escadrille Spa154. The change fostered Barbreau's success, as he became a balloon buster, destroying eight of the gasbags between 2 June and 8 August 1918. His victories brought him the Médaille militaire and a temporary commission as an officer. He was transferred to Escadrille 164 on 8 August 1918.[4]
Although his heroics ended at the ceasefire on 11 November 1918, he would not be awarded the resulting decoration of the Légion d'honneur until 6 July 1919. The accompanying citation would mention victories over five enemy airplanes, but there is no individual listing or confirmation of these victories.[5]
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
Paul Barbreau is believed to have flown some version of the Spad to score his aerial victories.[6]
| No. | Date/time | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 June 1918 | German Observation balloon | Destroyed | Igny l'Abbesse | Victory shared with Paul Waddington |
| 2 | 5 June 1918 @ 1800 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Trigny, France | Victory shared with Louis Prosper Gros, Paul Waddington |
| 3 | 30 June 1918 @ 0650 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Beuvardes, France | Victory shared with Michel Coiffard, Jacques Ehrlich |
| 4 | 17 July 1918 @ 0845 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Beine, France | Victory shared with Paul Waddington |
| 5 | 18 July 1918 @ 1915 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Forêt-de-Ris | Shared victory |
| 6 | 1 August 1918 @ 1740 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | Caurel, France | Victory shared with Paul Waddington and another French pilot |
| 7 | 3 August 1918 @ 1935 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | North of Somme-Py, France | Victory shared with Michel Coiffard |
| 8 | 3 August 1918 @ 1937 hours | German observation balloon | Destroyed | North of Somme-Py, France | Victory shared with Michel Coiffard[7] |
Post World War I
On 27 May 1922, Paul Barbreau arrived in New York harbor from Marseilles, France aboard the SS France.[8]
Nothing more is known of his life, except that he died in Marseilles on 2 June 1976.[9]
References
- Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918 Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
- Spad VII Aces of World War I: Volume 39 of Aircraft of the Aces. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-222-9, ISBN 978-1-84176-222-7.
- SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1: Volume 47 of Aircraft of the Aces: Volume 47 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-316-0, ISBN 978-1-84176-316-3.
Endnotes
- ↑ Over the Front, p. 116
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/barbreau.php Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ↑ Over the Front, p. 116. Note: When a French squadron upgraded its equipment, it eventually changed its unit designation to reflect the new equipment. Thus, Barbreau may, or may not, have originally flown Nieuports.
- ↑ Over the Front, p. 116.
- ↑ Over the Front, p. 116.
- ↑ Spad VII Aces, p. 37; Spad XII/XIII Aces, p. 60.
- ↑ Over the Front, p. 116.
- ↑ http://www.ellisisland.org/search/FormatPassRec.asp?ID=604453060086&BN=P50445-3&sship=France&lineshipid=320 Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/barbreau.php Retrieved 23 October 2011.
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