William Herisson

Sous Lieutenant William Louis Max Herisson was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with eleven confirmed aerial victories.

William Louis Max Herisson
Born20 June 1894
Nîmes, France
Died25 December 1969(1969-12-25) (aged 75)
Nîmes
AllegianceFrance
Service/branchCavalry; aviation
RankSous lieutenant
Unit11e Regiment de Hussards, Escadrille 20, Escadrille 75
AwardsLégion d'honneur, Médaille militaire, Croix de Guerre with nine palmes and three étoiles de vermeil

Early life

William Louis Max Herisson was born in Nimes on 20 June 1894.[1]

Military service

Herisson entered the French cavalry on 1 September 1914. On 30 November, he was promoted to enlisted Brigadier.[1]

On 6 April 1915, he was promoted again, to Maréchal-des-logis. On 1 September, he entered pilot's training at Étampes. He received his Pilot's Brevet, No. 2069, on 12 December, and was retained on instructor duty until the following August. On 30 August 1916 he reported to Escadrille F20 (the 'F' denoting the Farmans in use in the squadron). However, a week later, he was reporting for upgrade training to Nieuport fighter planes. On 8 December 1916, he joined a Nieuport squadron, Escadrille 75.[1]

On 1 March 1917, he was promoted to Adjutant. The squadron upgraded to Spads, and Herisson began to score. Beginning 22 July 1917, with a win over Verdun, he became an ace in two months, tallying his fifth victory on 25 September, with four of his five wins shared with other French pilots. The Médaille militaire was awarded to him on 18 November 1917.[2]

Herisson next scored on 18 February 1918, again teaming to share a win. On 30 March, he shared his seventh triumph with Gabriel Guerin and another French pilot. He next won a solo victory over a Pfalz D.III on 11 April 1918. Then he shared a win over another German fighter on 21 May. As recognition of his continuing success, he was appointed a Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur on 12 June 1918. He rounded his career as an ace with his only double, on 17 September 1918.[2]

Endnotes
  1. Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. p. 176.
  2. Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. p. 176–177.

References
  • Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
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