Théophile Henri Condemine
Lieutenant Colonel Théophile Henri Condemine, or Henri Théophile Condemine,[2] (25 January 1895 – 20 December 1981) was a French soldier and fighter pilot who began his military career during World War I. He became a flying ace credited with nine confirmed aerial victories, all against observation balloons. He also served during World War II.
Théophile Henri Condemine | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 25, 1895 Champagne-et-Fontaine, France |
| Died | 20 December 1981 (aged 86)[1] Angoulême, Charente, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/ | Cavalry; aviation |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 10ème Régiment de Hussards, 68ème Régiment d'Infanterie, Escadrille 154 |
| Awards | Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre with five palmes (palm branches) and an étoile de bronze (bronze star) |
Early life
Théophile Henri Condemine was born on 25 January 1895 in Champagnac-Fontaine.[3]
World War I
Condemine joined the French military on a three-year enlistment on 10 February 1914, and was assigned to the cavalry. He was promoted to enlisted brigadier on 1 August 1914; on 26 April 1916, he was promoted again, to Maréchal-des-logis. On 3 December 1916, he was detached to infantry duty. While in this assignment, he was commissioned as a sous-lieutenant. On 29 July 1917, he was severely wounded in the face, but carried on despite a German artillery barrage. A month later, he was awarded the Légion d'honneur for this action.[3]
After healing, Condemine was transferred to aviation training at Chartres, arriving the day before Christmas in 1917. On 10 March 1918, he was granted Military Pilot's Brevet Number 12102; two days later, he was sent to Pau for advanced training. Early on 22 August 1918, he arrived at Escadrille 154 to serve as a SPAD XIII pilot; at noon, he scored his first aerial victory, teaming with Paul Y. R. Waddington and Louis Prosper Gros to destroy a German observation balloon. On 7 September, he destroyed a balloon singlehanded. A week later, he teamed with Michel Coiffard to destroy a balloon over Gernicourt and another one at Cormicy. The next day, Condemine, Coiffard, and Jacques Ehrlich downed three more balloons in two minutes. Condemine rounded out his career as a balloon buster with solo victories a week apart, on 3 and 10 October 1918, the last two wins for his squadron. On 28 October, he flew a protective escort for Coiffard after the latter's wounding during his final fatal mission.[3][4]
Post-World War I
Condemine survived the war. He returned to service during World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[3]
Endnotes
- "Fichier des personnes décédées". Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- Although he is most often referred to as "Théophile Henri Condemine", his military record reads "Henri Théophile Condemine" and he is sometimes listed simply as "Henri Condemine"
- Franks (1992), p. 135
- Guttman (2005), pp. 17-18.
References
- Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1: Issue 66 of Aircraft of the Aces. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1841768774, 9781841768779.
- Military record on French DoD website
- 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.