Constant Soulier

Constant Frederic Soulier
Born	5 September 1897 Paris, France
Died	2 July 1933 Maisons-Laffitte, France
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	Aviation
Years of service	1915 - 1918
Rank	Marechal-des-Logis
Unit	No. 26 Escadrille
Awards	Medaille Militaire, Croix de Guerre with six Palmes, Etoile de Vermeil

Marechal-des-Logis Constant Frederic Soulier was a World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed aerial victories^[1] and nine unconfirmed.^[2]

Soulier was a student at the Ecole Polytechnique when World War I began. His first attempts to join the military were frustrated by his ill health and his minority, as he was only seventeen years old.^[3] Soulier managed to join the artillery in March 1915,^[4] but then wangled a transfer to aviation. He began aviation training at Pau in March 1916, and was brevetted a pilot two months later. He was posted to Escadrille 26 under command of Commandant Brocard in June 1916.^[5] He began his aerial victories as a balloon buster, destroying a German observation balloon on 24 August 1916. He had two additional wins before he began a prolonged hospital stay in January 1917. He returned to duty in March, and in May shot down two more enemy planes. On the 27th, Soulier became the youngest ace in French service, his predecessor, Paul Sauvage, having been killed in action. Soulier returned to hospital at the end of June 1917, and remained there until December. His illness ended his combat duty. He was shipped off to the United States to demonstrate combat flying to American pilots.^[6] He made a favorable impression on this public relations junket, being referred to as short and boyish, but solemn and self-assured. He was attributed with 430 flying hours and 60 dogfights.^[7]

Honors and awards

Médaille Militaire

"Voluntarily enlisted for the duration of the war. Has shown himself to be an excellent pursuit pilot, skillful as well as audacious. Has had numerous combats during the course of which he has downed three enemy appareils and forced four others to fall disabled." (Médaille Militaire citation, 8 March 1917)^[8]

Sources of information

1. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/soulier.php Retrieved on 27 March 2010.
2. ^ Nieuport Aces of World War 1. p. 51. 
3. ^ (Grand Rapids Tribune, 23 May 1918) http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/newspaper-articles/32482-making-french-ace.html Retrieved on 27 March 2010.
4. ^ Nieuport Aces of World War 1. p. 51. 
5. ^ (Grand Rapids Tribune, 23 May 1918) http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/newspaper-articles/32482-making-french-ace.html Retrieved on 27 March 2010.
6. ^ Nieuport Aces of World War 1. p. 51. 
7. ^ (Grand Rapids Tribune, 23 May 1918) http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/newspaper-articles/32482-making-french-ace.html Retrieved on 27 March 2010.
8. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/soulier.php Retrieved on 27 March 2010.

Reference

Persondata
Name	Soulier, Constant
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	5 September 1897
Place of birth	Paris, France
Date of death	2 July 1933
Place of death	Maisons-Laffitte, France