During WWI, destroying observation balloons was important but risky, first, because of their placement behind enemy lines, and second, because they were shielded by anti-aircraft guns. But not for Michel Coiffard, a French World War I flying ace, who destroyed 24 balloons out of his 34 aerial victories. Born on July 16, 1892, in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, he was not only a successful fighter pilot but also a brave soldier in his early days in the French Army. Coiffard joined the army in November 1910, well before World War I began, and served in Morocco and Tunisia before the war. When the war began, he was serving in an artillery unit and was promoted to sergeant in August 1914. In 1915, he was awarded the Military Medal, with a citation that perfectly highlighted his bravery in ground combat. The citation noted, “On May 29, 1915, as an artillery observer in the trenches under extremely violent bombardment by heavy artillery, he spontaneously offered himself to serve as a liaison between the infantry and artillery, the telephone connection with the artillery having been destroyed by enemy fire. When the infantry telephone network had been severed in its turn, he carried it along the artillery line and made repairs in terrain attacked by 105 and 150 artillery projectiles.”
Michel Coiffard’s Ace Journey
After sustaining multiple injuries, Michel Coiffard was declared unfit for ground combat and joined the air services in January 1917. After completing his training in April 1917, he joined Escadrille N.154 Squadron in June 1917, where he initially flew Nieuport aircraft. Coiffard achieved his first aerial success on September 5, 1917, when he destroyed a German Albatros C aircraft. He had to wait for the new year to achieve his second victory. He scored his second victory on January 3, 1918, and his third on February 2. On the same day as his third victory, he was awarded Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) with a citation, “A valiant officer and a model of courage, initiative and devotion. Wounded four times in the infantry, he entered the aviation service, where he has proven his most brilliant military qualities. He downed his third enemy plane on February 2, 1918, during the course of a particularly difficult combat.” Later in 1918, his squadron, Escadrille N.154, was equipped with new Spad XIIIs, and with this change, the unit was renamed Spa.154. He named his Spad XIII ‘Mado’ after his girlfriend. Over time, the Spa.154 became a professional balloon-bursting unit. Michel Coiffard scored his first balloon victory on June 30, when he shot down two balloons on the same day, and became an official flying ace with five victories. In July, he destroyed nine balloons and three aircraft. He continued his successful run in August, shooting down six balloons and two aircraft. He destroyed seven balloons in September. On October 2, he shot down a German two-seater to claim his 33rd aerial victory.
The Gracious Death
On October 28, while patrolling, Michel Coiffard spotted a German unit equipped with Fokker D.VIIIs. He sent a signal to the unit to engage, but it reached only his wingman, and the two fought against the entire unit. He shot down a Fokker to claim his 34th aerial victory, but was also wounded as two bullets hit him, one in the thigh and the other in the chest. Despite injuries, he flew his Spad back 7.5 miles and landed in friendly lines. He died three hours later when he was being transported to the hospital. The next day, he was awarded the Officer de la Légion d’honneur, with a citation that described him as an officer of fierce energy and incomparable bravery. “In Morocco, he had already gained attention by his audacity. In the actual war, he served successively in the artillery, infantry, and air service, attracting throughout amazement and admiration because of his scorn of death and his admirable spirit of sacrifice. In pursuit of aviation, his will to conquer allowed him to accomplish a series of exploits with regularity and speed which have never been equaled,” the citation added. Michel Coiffard was a brave soldier in ground combat and a courageous fighter pilot in the air. Few flying aces had served in both ground and air. But the number must be a handful for those who have made an impact in both the air and on the ground. In the Aces series, Michel Coiffard stands out as an ace who performed his duty well, wherever he served, be it as an artillery handler, a fighter pilot, or a balloon buster. Read about more Aces HERE.
