Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force
Chief of Staff of the Air Force | |
---|---|
Chef d'État-Major de l'Armée de l'Air (fr) | |
Ministry of the Armed Forces | |
Style | Monsieur le Chef d'État-Major de l'Armée de l'Air |
Abbreviation | C.E.M.A.A. |
Member of | Chiefs of Staff Committee |
Reports to | Chief of the Defense Staff |
Seat | Hexagone Balard, Paris |
Appointer | President of the Republic Requires the Prime Minister's countersignature |
Term length | No fixed term |
Precursor | Directeur du Service Aéronautique |
Formation | 28 December 1928[2] |
First holder | Henry Michaud |
Deputy | Major General of the Air Force |
Website | www.defense.gouv.fr |
The Chief of Staff of the French Air Force (French: Chef d'État-Major de l'Armée de l'Air, acronym: C.E.M.A.A. lit. 'Chief of Staff of the Air Army') is the head of the French Air Force and is responsible to the Minister of the Armed Forces in relation to preparation and deployment. They are a subordinate of the Chief of the Defense Staff and their deputy is the Major General of the Air Force. Since the 50s, the office has been held only by five stars generals (OF-9). The current Chief is Général Philippe Lavigne since 31 August 2018.
History
Before World War II
The office was officially created in December 1928 in the 1929 Law of Finances. It proposed the creation of a top command for the "Aéronautique militaire", still under the authority of the Army, which would succeed the function of Direction of Military Aeronautics. The French Air Force became independent in 1934, and the Chief obtained full authority.
During World War II
After the armistice, Germany imposed severe restrictions on the size of the French Air Force. As a result, the scope of authority of the Chief was limited, and the office was ultimately eliminated alongside the Air Force.
After World War II
Free France and the subsequent governments of the re-established French Republic recreated the office at the end of the war.
Name of the office
The office took various names during its history:
- Chief of the General Staff of the Air Forces (1930–1933)
- Chief of the General Staff of the Air Army (1933–1943)
- Chief of the General Staff of the French Air Forces (1943–1944)
- Chief of the General Staff of the Air Army (1944–1953)
- Chief of Staff of the Air Army (1953 – )
List of chiefs
The following is a list of chiefs that served under the Third Republic, the French State, the Fourth Republic and the Fifth Republic:
Third Republic
No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Minister[a] | Commander-in-Chief | Ref.[b] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
Office established | ||||||||
1 | Général de division Henry Michaud |
6 October 1930 | 5 January 1931 | 91 days | Laurent Eynac Paul Painlevé |
Gaston Doumergue | [3] - | |
2 | Général de division Joseph Barès |
5 January 1931 | 28 August 1931 | 235 days | Paul Painlevé Jacques-Louis Dumesnil |
Gaston Doumergue Paul Doumer |
[4] - | |
3 | Général de division Lucien Hergault |
28 August 1931 | 15 January 1933 | 1 year, 140 days | Jacques-Louis Dumesnil Paul Painlevé |
Paul Doumer Albert Lebrun |
[5] - | |
4 | Général de division Joseph Barès |
15 January 1933 | 2 April 1933 | 77 days | Paul Painlevé Pierre Cot |
Albert Lebrun | [6] - | |
5 | Général de division Victor Denain |
2 April 1933 | 16 February 1934 | 320 days | Pierre Cot Victor Denain |
Albert Lebrun | [7] - | |
6 | Général de division aérienne Joseph Barès |
16 February 1934 | 3 September 1934 | 199 days | Victor Denain | Albert Lebrun | [8] - | |
7 | Général de division aérienne Louis Picard |
3 September 1934 | 27 December 1935 | 1 year, 115 days | Victor Denain | Albert Lebrun | [9] [10] | |
8 | Général de division aérienne Bernard Pujo |
27 December 1935 | 15 October 1936 | 293 days | Victor Denain Marcel Déat |
Albert Lebrun | [11] - | |
9 | Général de division aérienne Philippe Féquant |
15 October 1936 | 2 February 1938 | 1 year, 130 days | Marcel Déat Pierre Cot Guy La Chambre |
Albert Lebrun | [12] - | |
10 | Général de division aérienne Joseph Vuillemin |
22 February 1938 | 10 September 1940 | 2 years, 201 days | Guy La Chambre Laurent Eynac Bertrand Pujo Jean Bergeret |
Albert Lebrun Philippe Pétain |
[13] [14] |
French State
No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Minister[a] | Commander-in-Chief | Ref.[b] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
11 | Général de corps aérien Robert Odic |
10 September 1940 | 23 September 1940 | 13 days | Jean Bergeret | Philippe Pétain | [15] [16] | |
12 | Général de brigade aérienne Jean C. Romatet |
23 September 1940 | 21 December 1942 | 2 years, 89 days | Jean Bergeret Jean-François Jannekeyn |
Philippe Pétain | [17] - | |
13 | Général de division aérienne Jean-François Jannekeyn |
? | ? | ? | François Darlan | Philippe Pétain | - - | |
Office disestablished (Air Force disbanded during German occupation - See Free French Air Forces) |
Fourth Republic
No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Minister[a] | Commander-in-Chief | Ref.[b] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
Office reestablished | ||||||||
14 | Général de corps aérien René Bouscat |
2 July 1943 | 31 October 1944 | 1 year, 121 days | Vacant André Le Troquer Fernand Grenier |
Charles de Gaulle | [18] - | |
15 | Général d'armée aérienne Martial Henri Valin |
31 October 1944 | 29 February 1946 | 1 year, 120 days | Charles Tillon Vacant |
Charles de Gaulle Félix Gouin |
- - | |
16 | Général d'armée aérienne René Bouscat |
29 February 1946 | 7 September 1946 | 191 days | Vacant | Félix Gouin Georges Bidault |
[19] - | |
17 | Général de division aérienne Paul Gérardot |
7 September 1946 | 15 February 1947 | 161 days | Vacant | Georges Bidault Vincent Auriol |
[20] - | |
18 | Général de division aérienne Jean Piollet |
15 February 1947 | 1 February 1948 | 351 days | Vacant André Maroselli Pierre-Henri Teitgen |
Vincent Auriol | [21] - | |
19 | Général d'armée aérienne Charles Léchères |
1 February 1948 | 22 August 1953 | 5 years, 202 days | Pierre-Henri Teitgen René Mayer [...] Georges Bidault René Pleven |
Vincent Auriol | - [22] | |
20 | Général d'armée aérienne Pierre Fay |
22 August 1953 | 22 March 1955 | 1 year, 212 days | René Pleven Marie-Pierre Kœnig Emmanuel Temple Jacques Chevalier Marie-Pierre Kœnig |
Vincent Auriol René Coty |
- - | |
21 | Général d'armée aérienne Paul Bailly |
22 March 1955 | 17 March 1958 | 2 years, 360 days | Marie-Pierre Kœnig Pierre Billotte Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury André Morice Jacques Chaban-Delmas |
René Coty | - [23] | |
22 | Général d'armée aérienne Max Gelée |
17 March 1958 | 1 October 1958 | 198 days | Jacques Chaban-Delmas Pierre de Chevigné Charles de Gaulle |
René Coty | - - |
Fifth Republic
No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref.[b] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
23 | Général d'armée aérienne Edmond Jouhaud |
1 October 1958 | 15 March 1960 | 1 year, 166 days | Charles de Gaulle Pierre Guillaumat |
René Coty Charles de Gaulle |
- [24] | |
24 | Général d'armée aérienne Paul Stehlin |
15 March 1960 | 1 October 1963 | 3 years, 200 days | Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Messmer |
Charles de Gaulle | - [25] | |
25 | Général d'armée aérienne André Martin |
1 October 1963 | 27 February 1967 | 3 years, 149 days | Pierre Messmer | Charles de Gaulle | - - | |
26 | Général d'armée aérienne Philippe Maurin |
27 February 1967 | 13 December 1969 | 2 years, 289 days | Pierre Messmer Michel Debré |
Charles de Gaulle Georges Pompidou |
[26] - | |
27 | Général d'armée aérienne Gabriel Gauthier |
13 December 1969 | 12 December 1972 | 2 years, 365 days | Michel Debré | Georges Pompidou | - - | |
28 | Général d'armée aérienne Claude Grigaut |
12 December 1972 | 24 June 1976 | 3 years, 195 days | Michel Debré Robert Galley Jacques Soufflet Yvon Bourges |
Georges Pompidou Valéry Giscard d'Estaing |
[27] - | |
29 | Général d'armée aérienne Maurice Saint-Cricq |
24 June 1976 | 16 July 1979 | 3 years, 22 days | Yvon Bourges | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing | [28] - | |
30 | Général d'armée aérienne Guy Fleury |
16 July 1979 | 11 June 1982 | 2 years, 330 days | Yvon Bourges Joël Le Theule Robert Galley Charles Hernu |
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing François Mitterrand |
[29] - | |
31 | Général d'armée aérienne Bernard Capillon |
11 June 1982 | 16 October 1986 | 4 years, 127 days | Charles Hernu Paul Quilès André Giraud |
François Mitterrand | [30] - | |
32 | Général d'armée aérienne Achille Lerche |
16 October 1986 | 25 April 1989 | 2 years, 191 days | André Giraud Jean-Pierre Chevènement |
François Mitterrand | [31] - | |
33 | Général d'armée aérienne Jean Fleury |
25 April 1989 | 2 December 1991 | 2 years, 220 days | Jean-Pierre Chevènement Pierre Joxe |
François Mitterrand | [32] - | |
34 | Général d'armée aérienne Vincent Lanata |
2 December 1991 | 1 July 1994 | 2 years, 211 days | Pierre Joxe François Léotard |
François Mitterrand | [33] - | |
35 | Général d'armée aérienne Jean-Philippe Douin |
1 July 1994 | 1 September 1995 | 1 year, 62 days | François Léotard Charles Millon |
François Mitterrand Jacques Chirac |
[34] - | |
36 | Général d'armée aérienne Jean Rannou |
1 September 1995 | 2 July 2000 | 4 years, 305 days | Charles Millon Alain Richard |
Jacques Chirac | [35] - | |
37 | Général d'armée aérienne Jean-Pierre Job |
2 July 2000 | 1 September 2002 | 2 years, 61 days | Alain Richard Michèle Alliot-Marie |
Jacques Chirac | [36] - | |
38 | Général d'armée aérienne Richard Wolsztynski |
1 September 2002 | 16 July 2006 | 3 years, 318 days | Michèle Alliot-Marie | Jacques Chirac | [37] - | |
39 | Général d'armée aérienne Stéphane Abrial |
16 July 2006 | 25 August 2009 | 3 years, 40 days | Michèle Alliot-Marie Hervé Morin |
Jacques Chirac Nicolas Sarkozy |
[38] - | |
40 | Général d'armée aérienne Jean-Paul Paloméros |
25 August 2009 | 17 September 2012 | 3 years, 23 days | Hervé Morin Alain Juppé Gérard Longuet Jean-Yves Le Drian |
Nicolas Sarkozy François Hollande |
[39] [40] | |
41 | Général d'armée aérienne Denis Mercier |
17 September 2012 | 21 September 2015 | 3 years, 4 days | Jean-Yves Le Drian | François Hollande | [41] [42] | |
42 | Général d'armée aérienne André Lanata |
21 September 2015 | 31 August 2018 | 2 years, 344 days | Jean-Yves Le Drian Sylvie Goulard Florence Parly |
François Hollande Emmanuel Macron |
[43] [44] | |
43 | Général d'armée aérienne Philippe Lavigne |
31 August 2018 | Incumbent | 5 years, 307 days | Florence Parly | Emmanuel Macron | [45] [46] |
Free France
From its creation in 1940 to the final integration of its air force to the regular French Air Force, Free France had its own staff, based in London. The Free French Aerial Forces were headed by a Commander, responsible to the Commander-in-Chief of the Free French Forces, and was assisted by a Chief of the General Staff.
Commanders of the Free French Aerial Forces
List of Commanders of the Free French Aerial Forces | ||||||||
No. | Portrait | Name | Term | Commissioner | Commander-in-Chief | Ref.[b] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
1 | Vice-amiral Emile Muselier |
1 July 1940 | 10 July 1941 | 1 year, 9 days | Vacant | Charles de Gaulle | [47] - | |
2 | Général de brigade aérienne Martial Henri Valin |
10 July 1941 | ? June 1944 | 2 years, 327 days | Vacant Martial Henri Valin |
Charles de Gaulle | [48] - |
Chiefs of the General Staff
List of Chiefs of the General Staff | ||||||||
No. | Portrait | Name | Term | Commissioner | Commander-in-Chief | Ref.[b] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Duration | ||||||
1 | Capitaine Eugène-Marcel Chevrier |
1 July 1940 | 25 December 1940 | 177 days | Vacant | Charles de Gaulle | - - | |
2 | Lieutenant-colonel Charles Pijeaud |
13 January 1941 | 31 March 1941 | 77 days | Vacant | Charles de Gaulle | - - | |
3 | Général de brigade aérienne Martial Henri Valin |
31 March 1941 | 10 July 1941 | 101 days | Vacant | Charles de Gaulle | - - | |
4 | Lieutenant-colonel Charles Pijeaud |
10 July 1941 | 1 December 1941 | 144 days | Vacant Martial Henri Valin |
Charles de Gaulle | - - | |
5 | Colonel Charles Luguet |
1 December 1941 | 13 April 1942 | 133 days | Martial Henri Valin | Charles de Gaulle | - - | |
6 | Colonel Pierre Coustey |
13 April 1942 | 13 April 1943 | 1 year, 0 days | Martial Henri Valin | Charles de Gaulle | - - | |
7 | Colonel Georges Andrieu |
13 April 1943 | ? November 1944 | 1 year, 202 days | Martial Henri Valin André Le Troquer Fernand Grenier |
Charles de Gaulle | - - |
See also
Explanatory notes
Citations
- ^ "Marques, honneurs, saluts et visites dans les forces navales et à bord des bâtiments de la marine militaire". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). 10 August 1939. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (28 December 1928). "Loi des Finances pour l'exercice 1929 - Article 116". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (5 October 1930). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (5 January 1931). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (27 August 1931). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (14 January 1933). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (1 April 1933). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (15 February 1934). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (31 August 1934). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "GENERAL PICARD; Chief of 'the French Air Force General Staff Until 1940". The New York Times. 14 August 1943. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (26 December 1935). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (16 September 1936). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (22 February 1938). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "French Air Staff Chief Will Make Visit to Reich". The New York Times. 22 July 1938. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French State (4 September 1940). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "General Odic Joins Free French". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 November 1941. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French State (23 September 1940). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (1 July 1943). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (28 February 1946). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (2 September 1946). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (15 February 1947). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "Foes of Laos in Regrouping". The Baltimore Sun. 3 May 1953. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "French Air Force Staff Chief Resigns". St. Petersburg Independent. 14 March 1958. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "O.A.S. Leader Denies Part in Hold-up". The Age. 13 April 1962. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "GEN. PAUL STEHLIN OF FRANCE, 67, DIES; Figured in the Controversy on New Fighter Plane". The New York Times. 23 June 1975. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (21 February 1967). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (6 December 1972). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (31 May 1976). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (11 June 1979). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (24 March 1982). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (8 September 1986). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (3 April 1989). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (9 October 1991). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (9 May 1994). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (3 August 1995). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (25 May 2000). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (18 July 2002). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (1 June 2006). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (20 July 2009). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Stacy Meichtry & Marion Halftermeyer (5 June 2014). "Last of Surviving D-Day Veterans Battle Time to Bear Witness". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (2 August 2012). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "Greek fighter jet crash 'due to takeoff fault'". BBC. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (4 June 2015). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "NATO welcomes new Supreme Allied Commander Transformation". NATO. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (18 August 2018). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Brian Everstine (2 July 2019). "French Air Force Begins Research into Sixth Generation Aircraft". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ National Order of Liberation. "Émile Muselier". Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ Government of Free France (5 July 1941). "Décret du portant nomination du Commandant des Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 28 October 2019.