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 Georges
Guynemer was France's most beloved ace. On the outbreak
of World War I he tried unsuccessfully to join first the
infantry and then the cavalry. Finally, he enlisted in the
air service as a student mechanic. Later he was accepted
as a pilot trainee where after he received his pilot's certificate,
he joined the M.S.3 Squadron.
Despite his frail physical appearance and
his suffering from tuberculosis, he took part in more than
600 aerial combats and was shot down 8 times and survived.
An excellent marksman and highly skilled pilot, he was hailed
as the French Ace of Aces. He remained with this squadron
for the rest of his short life, flying successively Morane-Saulnier,
Nieuport, and Spad fighters. On 11 September 1917, Guynemer
was last seen attacking an Aviatik near Poelcapelle, northwest
of Ypres. Almost a week later, it was publicly announced
in a London paper that he was missing in action. Shortly
thereafter, a German newspaper reported Guynemer had been
shot down by Kurt Wissemann, although Guynemer's body was
never found. In all Guynemer was credited with 53 air victories.
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