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Name: Maurice Jean Paul Boyau Balloon-Buster
Légion d'Honneur
Médaille Militaire
Croix de Guerre with 14 palms and 1 star		 Maurice Boyau
Country: France
Rank: Lieutenant
Service: French Air Service
Units: N77; Spa77
Victories: 35
Born: 08 May 1888
Place of Birth: Mustapha, Algeria
Died: 16 September 1918 Killed In Action
Place of Death:  
 
 
Well know for his skill at rugby, Boyau served in the infantry before the war. In 1915, while serving as a driver in the Army Service Corps, he requested a transfer to the French Air Service. Obtaining a Pilot's Brevet on 28 November 1915, he served as an instructor at Buc before being posted to N77 in September 1916. Before he was killed in action, Boyau downed 21 balloons and 14 enemy aircraft.
FAMOUS AIRMAN MISSING.
   Paris, Friday.—It is reported that the aviator, Lieut. Boyau, is missing. He had to his record 35 victories.—Reuter.
   Boyau, who was one of the best-known athletes in France, having captained French Rugby teams against England, Wales, and Scotland, was recently made an officer of the Legion of Honour for his prowess. He was to have been presented on the 29th with a diamond and platinum Legion of Honour cross bought by a halfpenny subscription made among all the athletes of France.
The Daily News - Saturday, September 21, 1918
 
 
Médaille Militaire
"Pursuit pilot of audacious bravery. Three times cited in orders, and has to his credit an aircraft and a balloon. On 5 June [1917] he destroyed another balloon. Forced to land in enemy territory, he repaired his plane and flew back over the lines at 200 meters altitude, under fire of enemy machine guns." Médaille Militaire citation
 
Légion d'Honneur (Officier)
"Pilot of remarkable bravery whose marvelous physical qualities are put to use by his most arduous spirit and fights at great heights. Magnificent officer with an admirable spirit of self-sacrifice, facing each day with the same smiling desire for new exploits, surpassing then succeeding. He excels in all branches of aviation; reconnaissance, photography in single-seaters, bombardments at low altitudes, attacks on ground troops, and is classed among the best pursuit pilots. He has reported twenty-seven victories, the last twelve in less than one month. Has downed sixteen balloons and eleven planes. Has the Médaille Militaire and Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur for feats of war. Eleven citations." Légion d'Honneur citation
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 16 Mar 1917 N77 Nieuport Aviatik S of Thiaucourt
2 03 Jun 1917 0955 N77 Nieuport Balloon 1 Geline
3 05 Jun 1917 N77 Nieuport Balloon Moussey
4 24 Jun 1917 N77 Nieuport Balloon 2 Goin
5 24 Jun 1917 0945 N77 Nieuport Scout Goin-Chevisey
6 13 Jul 1917 1035 N77 Nieuport LVG C 3 N of Nancy
7 26 Aug 1917 1530 N77 Nieuport Balloon Juvelize-Bourdonnaye
8 16 Sep 1917 1500 N77 Nieuport Balloon 4 Haie-Vauthier
9 22 Sep 1917 1850 N77 Nieuport Balloon 4 Cirey-Bertrambois
10 23 Sep 1917 1125 N77 Nieuport Two-seater Coincourt
11 01 Oct 1917 1200 Spa77 SPAD VII Two-seater 5 N of Champenoux
12 03 Jan 1918 Spa77   Balloon Beney
13 20 Feb 1918 0735 Spa77   Balloon 1 Vaxy
14 29 May 1918 Spa77   Balloon Bois de Bole
15 29 May 1918 Spa77   Albatros D.V 1 Ville-en-Tardenois
16 01 Jun 1918 Spa77   Pfalz Epieds
17 04 Jun 1918 Spa77   Balloon 1  
18 04 Jun 1918 Spa77   Balloon 1  
19 27 Jun 1918 Spa77   Balloon  
20 01 Jul 1918 Spa77   Balloon 6  
21 05 Jul 1918 Spa77   Balloon  
22 05 Jul 1918 Spa77   Scout  
23 15 Jul 1918 1550 Spa77   Fokker SE of Dormans
24 17 Jul 1918 1915 Spa77   EA NE of Nesle-le-Repons
25 21 Jul 1918 1905 Spa77   EA S of Soissons
26 22 Jul 1918 Spa77   Balloon 7  
27 22 Jul 1918 Spa77   Balloon 7  
28 22 Jul 1918 1530 Spa77   EA Fresnes
29 08 Aug 1918 1820 Spa77   Balloon Cury
30 08 Aug 1918 Spa77   Rumpler C 8 Ressons-sur-Matz
31 08 Aug 1918 1815 Spa77   EA Piennes
32 14 Sep 1918 1745 Spa77   Balloon 9 Etraye
33 15 Sep 1918 1330 Spa77   Balloon 10 La Haie-des-Allieanos
34 15 Sep 1918 1250 Spa77   Balloon 10 Foulgrey
35 16 Sep 1918 1117 Spa77   Balloon 11 Merville
1 Shared with S/Lt Jean Sardier
2 Shared with S/Lt d'Hautefeuille, Sgt Boillot
3 Shared with S/Lt d'Hautefeuille
4 Shared with S/Lt Reboug
5 Shared with S/Lt d'Hautefeuille, Capt Tourangin
6 Shared with S/Lt Claude Haegelen
7 Shared with Sgt François Guerrier
8 Shared with MdL Lentz-Mitchell
9 Shared with Cpl Corsi, S/Lt Claude Haegelen
10 Shared with Lt Decoin, S/Lt Yves Barbaza, Adj/Chef Strohl
11 Shared with Asp Cessieux
 
Books
Guttman, Jon. SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2002
Franks, Norman and Frank Bailey. Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914-1918. London: Grub Street, 1992
 
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