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Name: Fernand Maximillian Leon Jacquet
Chevalier of the Order of the Crown with Palm
Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
Order of St. Anne		 Fernand Jacquet Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Croix de Guerre with 6 Palms
Croix de Guerre
Country: Belgium
Rank: Capitaine-Commandant
Units: 1ère, 2me
Groupe de Chasse
Victories: 7
Born: 02 November 1888
Place of Birth: Petit-Chapelle, Belgium
Died: 12 October 1947
Place of Death: Beaumont, Belgium
 
 
A two-seater pilot throughout the war, Jacquet was the son of a wealthy landowner. He entered the Military Academy in October 1907. Despite less than perfect vision, after serving as an infantry officer he received a pilot's brevet on 25 February 1913. He made his first flights with 2me Escadrille de Chasse and was assigned to 1ère Escadrille in 1915. Inspired by Roland Garros, who had equipped a Morane monoplane with a machine gun, Jacquet fitted one to his Farman pusher. Claiming an Aviatik C over Beerst on 17 April 1915, Jacquet was the first Belgian pilot to score an aerial victory. In December 1916, he assumed command of 1me Escadrille and on 1 February 1917 he became Belgium's first ace, scoring all five victories flying the Maurice Farman. Jacquet was also the first pilot to fly King Albert to the front in 1917. Jacquet was promoted to Capitaine-Commandant in December 1917 and three months later, at the request of the King, he assumed command of the newly formed Belgian Groupe de Chasse. With the Groupe de Chasse, Jacquet flew the Sopwith 1½ Strutter and SPAD S.XI in combat. He was discharged from the army in 1920 and, in 1921, he opened a flying school at Gosselies. During World War II, Jacquet served with the resistance until his capture by the Germans in 1942.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 17 Apr 1915 1520-1655 1ère Maurice Farman Albatros C (DESF) Roulers
2 20 May 1916 2030 1ère Maurice Farman Hydr C (DES) Nieuport
u/c 26 May 1916   1ère Maurice Farman EA  
u/c 27 May 1916   1ère Maurice Farman EA  
3 23 Jun 1916 0800 1ère Maurice Farman Fokker (DES) Couckelaere
4 30 Jul 1916 1630 1ère Maurice Farman LVG C (DES) Houthulst
5 01 Feb 1917 1515 1ère Maurice Farman Rumpler C (DES) Lombartzyde
6 04 Oct 1918 0800 Groupe de Chasse SPAD Rumpler C (FTL) Gits
7 06 Nov 1918 0900 Groupe de Chasse SPAD C (FTL) E of Ghent
 
Books
Above Flanders' Field
by Walter M. Pieters / Hardcover / Grub Street (May 1998)
Above the War Fronts
by Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi / Hardcover / Grub Street (September 1997)
 
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