Portrait card of the French Ace Georges Guynemer in French and Arabic. In his hand, and by his side, are machine guns, presumably from the plane he shot down, number 43.
Le Capitaine Guynemer qui a abattu 43 avions.Captain Guynemer who shot down 43 aircraft.Reverse:Post Card. Carte Postale. Postkarte. Briefkarrt. Cartolina Postal. Tarjeta Postal.
"When his motor was in order and tested, Guynemer flew off, straight to St. Pol. None of us ever saw him again.Next morning, 11 September, 1917, at 8:25, he went again to fight, followed by one of his usual companions, Lieutenant Bozon-Verderuz. But he had, that day, a single ticket without return, and he did not come back."
Georges Guynemer was killed on September 11, 1917, credited with 53 victories, second of French aces in the war after René Fonck (75 victories). Our author, Willy Coppens, was Belgium's leading ace with 37 victories, all but two of his victims being observation balloons Although these balloons were tethered, they were well protected by anti-aircraft guns and fighter planes, making 'balloon busting' a hazardous specialty. Floating over the flat landscape of Flanders they were particularly menacing to those under their watchful eye. The day before his death, Guynemer had set down at the field of Coppens' squadron with engine trouble. The Belgians recognized him immediately, and crowded about. Coppens felt their attention made the famous ace nervous.
Flying in Flanders by Willy Coppens, page 111, publisher: Ace Books, publication date: 1971
1917-09-11, 1917, September, Guynemer, Georges Guynemer
