Fernand Jacquet

When neutral Belgium was invaded by Germany in August 1914, Jacquet flew reconnaissance missions near Namur, and reported the hazards of the encroaching Germans. Nor was the action in the air enough for the aggressive Belgian pilot. When not flying combat missions in a two-seater, he would rove the roads near the front in an automobile with a mounted Lewis machine gun; his gunner was none other than Joseph-Phillippe-Francois de Riquet, Prince de Chimay. It seems probable that the Belgian had a gunner on the ground for the same reason he had one in the air; the gunners had to do the shooting because Jacquet was too nearsighted. Additionally, Jacquet would increasingly 'push the envelope' in his aerial missions, whether volunteering for "special missions",[3] or simply hell-raising. In the latter category, Jacquet bombed the Germans at Groote Hemme on 24 November 1914, and again on Christmas Eve at Beerst and Essen. In the former, while brave men brought home the aerial photographs and reconnaissance sightings from the front, Jacquet penetrated past them to pierce deep into the German defenses, looking for a fight.[4]

He found ten Aviatiks on 26 February 1915, and took them on, though without success. On three other occasions, he attacked single Aviatiks.[5] Finally, on 17 April 1915, he scored his nation's first aerial victory.[6] Jacquet was taken under fire by the observer of a German Albatros two-seater at hundred yard range. He was flying a Farman HF.20 pusher with a Lewis gun, but it was his gunner, Henri Vindevoghel, who fired the fatal seven shots from 30 yards that killed the pilot, doomed his gunner,[4] and set the plane on fire.[7] Jacquet followed up with an indecisive combat on 20 June, when he claimed an enemy airplane driven down out of control, and on 28 July 1915, when he unsuccessfully claimed forcing an enemy plane to land.[5]

On 20 May 1916, Jacquet's gunner was Louis Robin. The Belgian duo fought meeting engagements with German floatplanes both morning and evening. In the evening battle, they took on half a formation of ten enemy planes, and sent one down for Jacquet's second confirmed win.[8] There followed a string of unconfirmed claims, on 26 and 27 May and on 22 June.[6] On 23 June, the Belgian Farman F.40 with the ghoulish insignia of a skull painted on the nose scored again, destroying a Fokker. Over the next month, the two Belgians rampaged, claiming two more wins that went unconfirmed, dropping flechettes on a German observation balloon, and strafing the Germans at Gistel. On the afternoon and evening of 30 July, Jacquet and Robin clashed with a series of Germans, being credited with an LVG destroyed. Their probable victim was Oberleutnant Franz Walz, who was downed with severe wounds that day.[8]

Jacquet and Robin survived being shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 8 September 1916, they remaining uninjured even as their plane was demolished. They were probably flying a Belgian modification of the Farman. In December 1916, Jacquet was promoted to command of his squadron, 1ère Escadrille de Chasse.[9]

On 1 February 1917, Jacquet finally became an ace.[6] He and Robin downed a brown Rumpler from 12,500 feet altitude.[10]

On 7 April 1917,[11] Jacquet was honored by being picked to personally fly his king, King Albert, on a tour of the front lines; the monarch and pilot were escorted by five Nieuports. When Belgium's first fighter wing, the Groupe de Chasse was organized later that month, King Albert was insistent that Jacquet take command.[10]

Jacquet tried to acquire Bristol F.2 Fighters to replace his aged Farmans. He received SPAD XIs and Sopwith 1A2s instead. Meantime, Lieutenant Robin went off to pilot's training. Jacquet was promoted to Captain-Commandant in December.[10]

Jacquet fought an indecisive combat on 3 June 1918, driving his enemy down out of control, an action which would have counted as a victory if the Belgian were flying under Royal Air Force rules. On 4 October, and again on 6 November, he used a Spad to force down a German two-seater. Fernand Jacquest ended the war with seven confirmed aerial victories and nine unconfirmed ones. He also had been honored with numerous decorations, both from his home nation and from her allies. His native Belgium made him a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold and an Officer of the Order of the Crown with Palme, and awarded the Croix de Guerre with six citations, eight chevrons de front, Croix Civil 3rd Class, Medaille Victoire, and Medaille de Commemoration 1914–1918. The French made him a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur and awarded him their Croix de Guerre. The Russians awarded him their Order of Saint Anna. The British awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross; he would be the only Belgian to receive one.[12][13]