Jean Derode

Jean Marie Émile Derode
Born 16 September 1887
St. Jacques par Lisieux, France
Died 4 June 1918(1918-06-04) (aged 30)
Allegiance France
Service/branch Cavalry; aviation
Rank Capitaine
Unit Escadrille 67
Commands held Escadrille 102, Escadrille 99
Awards Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre, Belgian Croix de Guerre

Capitaine Jean-Marie-Émile Derode was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.[1][2]

Derode began the war as a dragoon, but switched to aviation in 1915. He was posted to Escadrille 67 to pilot a Nieuport.[3] He staked an unconfirmed claim on 16 October 1916, and followed it up with official ones on 15 November and 27 December 1916.[1] He was given command of Escadrille 102,[3] and began scoring with it on 23 April 1917. He brought home a badly damaged machine from this sortie, and was honored for his effort with the Médaille militaire. He continued to score with his squadron, reaching six confirmed and three unconfirmed by 6 March 1918.[1] His command was then switched to Escadrille 99. He used one of their Spads to shoot down his seventh victim on 4 June 1918, only to be promptly shot down himself.[3]

Honors and awards

Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur

"Temporary capitaine, commanding escadrille N102; excellent squadron commander who, in his competitive spirit with his pilots, never ceases to display the greatest intrepidity. He has had numerous combats during the course of which he has downed three enemy planes. He particularly distinguished himself on 23 April 1917 by his energy and coolness, in succeeding to land normally in our lines after his plane was severely damaged during combat with an enemy plane. Already cited three times in orders."[4]

Sources of information

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/derode.php Retrieved on 28 March 2010.
  2. ↑ L'Aʹerophile: revue technique et pratique de la locomotion aʹerienne Georges Besançon, Union aérophile de France, Aéro-club de France - 1917 Volume 25 - Page 138 "Lieutenant Jean-Marie-Émile DERODE"
  3. 1 2 3 Nieuport Aces of World War 1. p. 58.
  4. ↑ (Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 5 May 1917) http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/derode.php Retrieved on 28 March 2010.

References

Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-961-1, ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.


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