Marcel Bloch (aviator)
Sous Lieutenant Marcel Robert Leopold Bloch was a World War I flying ace who fought for the French on both Eastern and Western Fronts. He was credited with five aerial victories, all scored against German observation balloons.[1]
Marcel Robert Leopold Bloch | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 July 1890 La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland |
| Died | 29 March 1938 (aged 48) Czechoslovakia |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/ | Flying services |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Sous lieutenant |
| Unit | Escadrille 3, Escadrille 62 |
| Awards | Légion d'honneur, Médaille militaire, Croix de Guerre, Russian Order of Saint George and Order of Saint Anne |
| Other work | disbanded by Vichy government. |
World War I service
Bloch volunteered for the French military on 7 September 1916, and was assigned to aviation service. After pilot training, he was granted Military Pilot's Brevet No. 2571 on 12 October 1915. Bloch was originally assigned to fly a Nieuport for Escadrille 3 but transferred to Escadrille 62 on 25 May 1916. He became a balloon buster ace, destroying five German observation balloons between 26 June and 1 October 1916.[2] In the process of destroying number three, on 3 July 1916, he was seriously wounded twice. He downed his last two on 30 September and 1 October.[1]
In 1917, Bloch was transferred from combat duty to a military mission.[2] On 23 March, he was transferred to the Russian Front. He sustained serious injuries on 8 May 1917, when he suffered a flying accident. After many months in hospital, he was assigned to the French Mission to the United States on 10 September 1918.[1]
Postwar life
On 1 March 1919, Bloch returned to France.[1] He would never recover from his war wounds, succumbing to them 29 March 1938 in Czechoslovakia.[3]
Honors and awards
Légion d'Honneur
Médaille Militaire
Croix de guerre
Russian Order of Saint George
Russian Order of Saint Ann
Sources of information
- The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/bloch.php Retrieved on 27 March 2010.
- Nieuport Aces of World War 1. p. 54.
- Over The Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. p. 120.
References
- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
- Franks, Norman (2000). Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-961-1, ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.