And then came the war. The youth, who because of physical weakness was refused admission to the army no less than five times, was finally accepted at the age of twenty, on November 23, 1914. Then began a career that in a few short years was destined to make the name of Georges Guynemer immortal.
Guynemer’s First Victory
In describing his first meeting with the Boche (bosh) on July 19, 1915, to his friend, Jacques Mortane, Guynemer said:
“I was on a two-seated ‘Parasol’ with Guerder, my mechanic, as passenger. I had promised myself for some time to undertake a pursuit in my airplane, but I had always been ordered on reconnaissances or photographic missions, and that kind of work did not suit me at all. It is always set aside for the newcomers in the squadrons, and I wanted to show that grit was not the exclusive possession of the older men.”
A Boche had been sighted at Coeuvres (koev-r), and Guynemer took flight with Guerder and was soon in pursuit of the enemy. As the Boche’s plane was faster there was no possibility of catching him. Nevertheless, the joy of finding a first adversary made Guynemer eager to attempt anything. From a great distance he fired at his opponent—possibly without any hope of hitting him, but steadily nevertheless. He pursued him as far as the Coucy aerodrome, where he saw him alight. This displeased Guynemer greatly. He had gone out to “get” a Boche and had to go back empty-handed.
“There we were,” he said, “with these sad thoughts, when suddenly another black point appeared on the horizon. As we came nearer, the point became larger and was soon plain, as a Boche. He was moving towards the French lines, thinking only of what he might find ahead. He did not dream that on his track were two young fellows determined not to return to the squadron without performing their task, two young fellows who believed that to return to headquarters without a Boche would mean derision.
“It was not until Soissons (swahs-sohng) was reached that we came up with him, and there the combat took place. During the space of ten minutes everybody in the city watched the fantastic duel over their heads. I kept about fifteen meters from my Boche—below, back of and to the left of him, and, notwithstanding all his twistings, I managed not to lose touch with him. Guerder fired 115 shots, but could not fire precisely, as his gun jammed continually. On the other hand, in the course of the fight my companion was hit by one bullet in the hand and another ‘combed’ his hair. He answered with his rifle, shooting well. We began to ask ourselves how this duel was going to end, but at the 115th shot fired by Guerder I saw the pilot fall to the bottom of his car, while the ‘look-out’ raised his arms in a gesture of despair, and the plane did a nose spin, and plunged down into the abyss in flames. He fell between the trenches. I hastened to land not far away.
“At last I was able to live my dream! I, who had so long desired to join in the fighting, had managed to gain a victory. What shall I say about the reception given me by the troops on the ground—ovations, congratulations, all under the vengeful cannon of the enemy. I have beaten down other Boches since that time, but when I think over my aerial duels my recollections always fly back to that first one.”
Official recognition came to Guynemer the next day when the Military Medal was awarded him for being “a pilot full of spirit and boldness.”
In considering Guynemer’s personal accounts of his various flights, it is evident that the Ace, while not inspired by the same craving for combat that Major Bishop acknowledges, was a hero of unusually high-pitched nerves, inspired with dreams of battle, and whose quests for the Boche were insatiable.