EUGENE GILBERT
The first ace
in the history of aviation?
It is quite difficult to determine with certainty who was the first pilot to have obtained five confirmed victories, a necessary and sufficient condition to claim the honorary title of the first ace in the world. Some sources cite Pégoud, others Garros.
It is certain, in any case, that Eugène Gilbert was not far from it. Discarded by a regulation which was not always so rigorous, he nevertheless obtained the five essential victories before the others. Only, at that time, only the enemy planes fallen in our lines were officially approved. However, three of his victims had the bad taste to fall on the other side of the front and despite the reports of eyewitnesses, the French general staff could not take them into account.
It is necessary recognize, however, that 4 of the successes attributed to Gilbert were in fact won by his observer, wielding the only weapon on board (a rifle!). At that time, pilot and "gunner" both received the credit for the victory, which seems completely justified.
One point of the favorable settlement, another step... and Eugène Gilbert is not officially the first ace in the world. It is up to the reader to judge...
Eugène Gilbert was born in Riom on July 19, 1889. The passion for mechanics takes him early and at 16 he abandons his brilliant studies to work as a simple developer in a garage in Clermont-Ferrand. He tried to build an airplane, but gave up and was admitted to the
Blériot school in Etampes in 1910. He quickly obtained his patent (no. 240), after eight lessons and a hour and a half of flight!
Called up, he was appointed corporal-aviator in November 1911. On the 24th of the same month, he was the victim of a serious accident which immobilized him for six months . Returning to civilian life, Gilbert distinguished himself particularly in numerous meetings and competitions (Pommery Cup, Bennett Cup, Michelin Cup).
Mobilization brought him back to military aeronautics and he was assigned to the MS 23 squadron, commanded by Captain Vergnette. He joined some big names in aviation, Le Révérend, Pinsard and Garros. His unit first fought around Epinal, then moved to Verdun and Amiens. rescue of a French plane in difficulty
at the MS 49 based in Belfort with a Morane N, the very one whose prototype Roland Garros had tested before the war. In memory of his friend taken prisoner a few days earlier and of Pourpre, killed in the MS 23, he baptized his plane Le Vengeur. On May 23, he engaged in combat (with his disarmed plane) against an Aviatik. He must stand upright, the handle locked between his knees to shoot his rifle. In the German plane, the observer adjusts his shots more serenely. As a result, the Morane landed with difficulty, broken spar. rudder shredded, with 26 bullets counted in the fuselage.
On June 7, the plane was repaired and Gilbert claimed an Aviatik in enemy lines. He added a second on the 11th. On the 17th, thanks to the system invented by Garros to protect the propeller blades with a deflector, he riddled with machine gun bullets a German who crashed into
to the MS 49 based in Belfort with a Morane N, the same one whose prototype Roland Garros had tested before the war. In memory of his friend taken prisoner a few days earlier and of Pourpre, killed in the MS 23, he baptized his plane Le Vengeur. On May 23, he engaged in combat (with his disarmed plane) against an Aviatik. He must stand upright, the handle locked between his knees to shoot his rifle. In the German plane, the observer adjusts his shots more serenely. As a result, the Morane landed with difficulty, broken spar. rudder shredded, with 26 bullets counted in the fuselage.
On June 7, the plane was repaired and Gilbert claimed an Aviatik in enemy lines. He added a second on the 11th. On the 17th, thanks to the system invented by Garros to protect the propeller blades with a deflector, he riddled with machine gun bullets a German who crashed into
by a Taube. Captain Vergnette shoots the German with a carabiner. But the Taube fell into its own lines and despite the testimony of the crew whose lives they had just saved, this victory could not be confirmed.
On November 18, Gilbert and his mechanic, Bayle , shot down an Aviatik which fell into its lines, near Reims, after a fierce fight lasting more than 35 minutes.
January 10, 1915, Gilbert and Lieutenant Puechredon shot down a crashing Rumpler on the right side of the forehead, this time. Puechredon only fired four bullets (within 15 meters!) and succeeded in killing the observer, injuring the pilot and piercing the radiator...
Joffre knights them Legion of Honor to encourage "pilots and observers who seek aerial combat every day".
On April 20, Gilbert was transferred
Saint -Amarin, near Weiller.
On June 27, alone aboard his Morane N, he dropped eight 90 shells on the Zeppelin hangars in Friedrichshaffen. A stupid breakdown forces him to land in Switzerland where he is interned. He escapes on August 22, but his joy is short-lived. The Swiss authorities complain that the letter from the French government authorizing him to take back his word not to escape came too late. Gilbert is driven back to the Swiss border. After another attempt, he escaped for good on May 25, 1916.
For him, however, the air war was over. He was assigned to the reception of new planes equipped with Le Rhône engines.
It was during a routine test, on August 17, 1918, that Eugène Gilbert died, a stabilizer having broken up while his plane dived.
C.-J. E.