A French Air Force Captaine in the Armée de l’Air
The Armée de l’Air uniform was designed after the regulation 1928 (Army) Air Service uniform. It was made dark blue with a single row of four gold buttons and a golden stripe (passant) on each shoulder. The rank insignia was on the sleeves, just like the Army and Navy at that time. The cap was to be worn blue from October 1st to April 1st and white the rest of the year.
French aviators of the famous Cigognes Squadron chose to wear black ties, instead of the regulation blue, as a sign of mourning after September 11th, 1917, when Ace Georges Guynemer was shot down.
The three gold lace "rings" or bands on his sleeves and hat indicate his rank. Above his right breast pocket is his Branch of Service badge and on the pocket is his pilot's badge.
Decorations represented on his medal rack include the Legion d'Honneur, the Croix de Guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Extérieurs, the Colonial Medal for his service time in the North African campaign and a clasp for the "ETHIOPIE" and "AFRIQUE FRANCAISE LIBRE".
February 28th, 2008, 05:20 PM
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