Del Antoine Gaston Vial

Name:

Country:

France

Rank:

Sous Lieutenant

Service:

French Air Service

Units:

BL49
F123
MF29
MS3
N315
Sop29
Spa152, Spa315

Victories:

Born:

27 December 1891

Place of Birth:

Val d'Ajol

Died:

Place of Death:

After serving in an artillery regiment during 1912, Vial transferred to the French Air Service in 1913 and obtained his Pilot's Brevet in July 1915. In aerial combat on 25 September 1915, he was struck in the right forearm by a piece of shrapnel. Vial served with various Escadrilles throughout the war, scoring all of his victories in 1918 as a pursuit pilot with Spa315 and Spa152.

Médaille Militaire

"A very adroit and courageous pilot, who has taken part in twenty long distance bombardments. Attacked by two enemy planes on 22 July 1916, he downed one of them. Already cited twice in orders." Médaille Militaire citation, 31 July 1916

Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur

"An officer of exceptional bravery and stamina. Took part in a great many long distance bombardments both by day and night. Transferred to pursuit aviation, he has not ceased to demonstrate his qualities of audacity and sang-froid. He recently attacked, at the head of his patrol, three enemy two-seaters and with his pilots downed two, reporting therewith his 7th and 8th victories. One wound, six citations." Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 24 August 1918

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	22 Jul 1916		MF29	Maurice Farman	EA
2	03 Feb 1918		Spa315	SPAD	EA	Wittelsheim
3	20 Mar 1918		Spa315	SPAD	Two-seater
4	18 May 1918	0920	Spa315	SPAD	Scout	W of Soulz
5	08 Jul 1918		Spa152	SPAD	Two-seater	Genevieve
6	08 Jul 1918		Spa152	SPAD	EA
7	20 Jul 1918	1005	Spa152	SPAD	Rumpler C	Nogent l'Abbesse
8	20 Jul 1918	1015	Spa152	SPAD	Two-seater ¹	Faverolles

1	Shared with S/Lt Ernest Maunoury

Books

Over the Front: by Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey / Hardcover / Grub Street the Basement (May 1992)

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