Bernard Dupérier, born June 13, 1907 and died June 8, 1995, was a French aviator of the Second World War.
Prominent member of the Free French Air Force, Bernard Dupérier joins England in March 1941 after passing through the United States. Appointed captain, he was assigned on May 27, 1941 to No. 242 Squadron, then in September to No. 615 Squadron before joining the Île-de-France fighter group (No. 340 "free French" Squadron) on October 30. as commander of the "Versailles" squadron. On April 11, 1942, he took the lead of the group, after the disappearance of Lieutenant Commander Philippe de Scitivaux. In May, he was appointed commander. In May 1943, he was assigned to the Alsace fighter group (No. 341 "free French" Squadron) of which he assumed command after the death of Commander René Mouchotte on August 29, 1943. In September, he was appointed wing commander in the RAF and in December takes the lead of the French fighter air squadron in Great Britain. In May 1944, he was seconded to the staff of General Koening, commander of the French Forces of the Interior. Appointed lieutenant-colonel, he parachuted into Brittany in July 1944 to obtain the surrender of the German forces in Saint-Brieuc. Wounded, he ended the war in the hospital.
Political career
Deputy (UNR-UDT) for the Seine from 1962 to 1967.
Hunting chart
* on July 6, 1941, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 above Lille;
* on May 3, 1942, he shot down a Focke-Wulf FW 190 near Calais;
* on August 19, 1942, he shot down a Dornier Do 217 above Dieppe;
* on November 2, 1942, he shot down two Focke-Wulf FW 190s above Berck and Le Touquet;
* on September 24, 1943, he shot down a Focke-Wulf FW 190 above Beauvais;
* on October 3, 1943, he shot down a Focke-Wulf FW 190 above the Somme estuary.
Decorations
* Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor
* Liberation Companion
* Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
* Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with nine palms
* Medal of Aeronautics
* Commander of Postal Merit
* Member of the Order of the British Empire
* Distinguished Flying Cross (Great Britain)
* Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)
* Czechoslovak War Cross
* Commander of the Black Star (Benin)
* Commander of Nichan Iftikhar (Tunisia)