Leon Richard

Leon Richard is a French fighter pilot of the Second world war, which represents the single characteristic, for a combined pilot, to have obtained the statute of As without to have cut down only one apparatus of the Axe.

Career and combat

Born the August 7th 1910 with Paris, it obtained its pilot's license in 1929, but of career of the Air force only in 1933 became warrant officer. At the conclusion of its formation as fighter pilot, in July 1935, it was transferred to the 3° Escadre before receiving, in November 1937, the command of GAR.571 , unit of air recognition based in Algérie. In April 1940, it made a short stay in metropolis before being redirected, dice the May 6th 1940, on the Tunisia with GC.1/9 . It did not take part in the Campagne of France. The August 31st of the same year it accepted the command of the 6° flotilla of GC.III/6 , equipped with Dewoitines D.520 and joined the French troops of the Raising.

It is during the fratricides engagements of the Campagne of Syria, in May - June 1941, which it obtained all its air successes:

the June 8th, it cut down a Fairey Fulmar of the Royal Navy;
the June 9th, it cut down a Hurricane;
the June 13rd, it cut down a Blenheim of N° 11 Squadron;
the June 23rd, it obtained 2 victories: Hurricane and a P.40 Tomahawk;
and the July 5th, it cut down its 6° adversary: another Hurricane.

At the conclusion of the engagements, it belonged to the large majority of the French soldiers who refused to join the forces gaullists and it preferred to turn over in Algérie with its unit. Meanwhile promoted with the rank of Captain, it cut down Fairey Fulmar, at the time of a defensive patrol, the May 18th 1942. At the conclusion of the Anglo-American unloading in North Africa, at the time of the Torch operation, it took again service at the side of Alliés and began a reconversion on P.40. It committed suicide at the time of a exercise, the May 26th 1943, while trying to pose in urgency its apparatus with gasoline court.

Prize list

It is credited with 7 approved victories ; all being to be Anglo-Saxon apparatuses .

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