François Coulet

François Coulet (January 16, 1906 – June 11, 1984) was a diplomat who joined Charles de Gaulle and the Free France movement in June 1940. He served as Commissioner of the Republic in Bayeux in June 1944 and was involved in establishing the air commandos during the Algerian War.

Early life and education François Coulet was born into a wealthy Protestant family. His father was the rector of the academy in Montpellier. Coulet initially aspired to attend the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, but his father, a supporter of the Radical Socialist Party, discouraged him.

Sources vary on his education: some state that he attended the École normale supérieure in Paris to study literature, while others suggest he obtained a bachelor's degree at the University of Montpellier. He also earned a law degree and attended the École libre des sciences politiques. He passed the foreign affairs ministry exam in 1936.

Career

Early diplomatic work At the start of World War II, Coulet was stationed in Helsinki. Following the rise of Philippe Pétain on June 16, 1940, he decided to join the Free France forces. He left Helsinki on June 19, 1940, with his wife and two companions, embarking on a journey that took them through Tallinn, Moscow, Kiev, Sofia, and Istanbul. He eventually reached Port Said, Egypt, and joined the 1st Colonial Infantry Battalion. General Charles de Gaulle entrusted him with key missions, including liaising with Félix Éboué in Fort-Lamy.

In Jerusalem, on April 27, 1941, Coulet met De Gaulle and became his aide-de-camp, succeeding Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel. Based mainly in London, he served until October 1942, after which he returned to active combat.

Algerian War and air commandos In 1956, Coulet left diplomacy to participate in the Algerian War. As a reserve officer in the French Air Force, he took command of the newly created air commandos. By July 1957, he led the 541st Air Commando Group. During his tenure, he emphasized rigorous training and esprit de corps. In March 1960, he transitioned to a more administrative role as director of political affairs in Algeria. Despite his loyalty to De Gaulle, Coulet faced challenges, including the dissolution of his command unit after the Algiers putsch of 1961.

Decorations Chevalier of the Legion of Honour Médaille de la Résistance with rosette (July 3, 1946 decree) First Class of the Order of Homayoun (Iran), November 24, 1954