Albert Deullin

Albert Louis Deullin
Born	(1890-08-24)24 August 1890 Épernay, France
Died	29 May 1923(1923-05-29) (aged 32)
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	Aviation
Rank	Capitaine
Unit	Escadrille 62, Escadrille 3
Commands held	Escadrille 73, Groupe de Combat 19
Awards	Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre

Capitaine Albert Louis Deullin (24 August 1890 – 29 May 1923) was a World War I flying ace credited with twenty aerial victories.^[1] By war's end, he had risen to command of a fighter wing.^[2]

Deullin scored his first triumph on 10 February 1916 while piloting a two-seater Maurice Farman for MF 62. He switched to Escadrille N3 as a Nieuport fighter pilot. He scored ten aerial victories in exactly another year, with triumph eleven coming on 10 February 1917.^[3] He then was transferred to command 73 Escadrille and began scoring for them.^[4] Over the next fourteen months, he downed nine more enemy planes, with the last falling on 19 May 1918. He was promoted to higher command in 1918, to leadership of Group de Combat 19.^[5]

Deullin died in a flying accident at Villacoublay on 29 May 1923.^[6] He was testing a prototype of a new airplane.^[7]

Honors and awards

Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur "Pilot with exceptional initiative and sang-froid, endlessly seeking battle against enemy planes. Wounded on 2 April 1916 during the course of aerial combat, he returned to his Escadrille before being completely rehabilitated, and since his return has had twelve auspicious combats. On 30 April 1916, he attacked point blank an enemy plane and downed it in front of our trenches. Already cited twice in army orders."(Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 4 June 1916)^[8]

Officier de la Légion d'Honneur "Commander of a Groupe de Combat, marvelous pursuit pilot, elite officer and model of the highest military virtues of bravery, character, and intelligence that have become legendary in French aviation. Wounded three times in aerial combat, he always returns to his place in the battle before being completely healed. Has admirable qualities of a fighter along with rare qualities of leadership. By his daily example and ceaseless work, in three months he has forged his Groupe de Combat into an elite unit. During the first days of the German offensive he executed in the rain and close to the ground, an audacious reconnaissance which was valuable to the intelligence officer. He recently downed his 20th enemy plane. Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur for feats of war. Twelve citations." (Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 4 June 1916)^[9]

Sources

References

• Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-961-1, ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.
• SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1841763160, 9781841763163.