Jean-François Jannekeyn

Jean François Jannekeyn was born in Cambrai, France, on 16 November 1892.[1]

Jannekyn served as a cavalryman before his transfer to aviation service during World War I.[4] Transferring in 1917,[1] he served as an aerial observer. On 23 May 1918, he took command of Escadrille BR.132, a bomber squadron. He usually flew with Lieutenant Eugène Weismann as his pilot. Jannekyn gained his first aerial victory on 22 August 1918. Then, on 14 September 1918, Jannekyn and Weismann were one of four Bréguet air crews battling German Fokker D.VIIs. Four Fokkers were shot down, and all French participants were credited with four aerial victories.[4]

In 1939, at the start of World War II, he was a Brigadier general; the following year, he was bumped to Major general. In 1942 and 1943, he served as Minister of Air.[1]

Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
"An officer of exceptional merit who has never ceased throughout the war, at first as a volunteer in a cavalry battalion, then in day bombardment aviation, to be an example of courage and self-denial. Five citations." Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 27 March 1919[1][4]

He also won the Croix de Guerre with two palmes, an etoile de vermeil, an etoile de argent and an etoile de bronze.[4]

• Aerial victory standards of World War I

• 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 London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.

• (in French) Biography, list of aerial victories