Auguste Baux

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Auguste Baux
Born(1892-07-09)9 July 1892
Bourg-de-Péage, Drôme, France
Died17 July 1918(1918-07-17) (aged 26)
Cuchery, Marne, France
AllegianceFrance
Service/branchFrench Army
Years of service1914–1918
RankAdjutant
UnitEscadrille 103
AwardsMédaille militaire
Croix de Guerre

Adjutant Auguste Baux (9 July 1892 – 17 July 1918) was a French World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]

Biography[edit]

Baux first served in the infantry, and on 3 October 1914 during the fighting on the Western Front was taken prisoner by the Germans. However he managed to escape and returned to the French lines.[2][3]

He later transferred to the Army's aviation service, gaining Military Pilot's Certificate No. 5484, and was then posted to Escadrille N 103 on 4 May 1917, flying Nieuports. The unit was renamed Escadrille SPA 103 in April 1917, after re-equipping with SPAD aircraft.[4]

Baux's first confirmed aerial victory came on 16 March 1918 after shooting down an Albatros D.V fighter over Witry-lès-Reims. On 22 March he and two other pilots were jointly credited with shooting down a Rumpler two-seater reconnaissance aircraft over Rilly-la-Montagne. On 22 April Baux and Sgt Gilbert Loup claimed two fighters shot down over Laval, but their claims were denied. On 2 June his victory over an enemy aircraft over Moreuil was confirmed, and he gained two more confirmed victories (though details remain obscure)[2] before his death in combat over Cuchery on 17 July 1918.[2][3]

Baux was awarded the Military Medal and the Croix de Guerre with four palms.[2][3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Auguste Baux". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Baux, Auguste". Ciel de gloire.com (in French). Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Auguste Baux". Fan d'Avions (in French). 16 May 2001. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  4. ^ Albin, Denis. "L'escadrille 103". L'histoire de l'aviation militaire française (in French). Retrieved 17 January 2018.

Further reading[edit]

  • Franks, Norman & Bailey, Frank W. (1992). Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.