Georges Madon

Georges Félix Madon (28 July 1892 – 11 November 1924) was the fourth-ranked French ace pilot of the First World War. His lengthy career and wide variety of aviation experiences were remarkable.

Early years Madon was born in Bizerte, Tunisia, and was athletic from an early age. He was short but had exceptional strength and posture. He boxed and played football.

Madon first became interested in aviation at the age of 15, when he made an unsuccessful attempt to build his own craft. He had quit school to get over an attack of malaria. After building models and kites, he fabricated his own bicycle-powered "aviette".

His desire to fly led him to attempt to become a pilot for the Ottoman Empire. When that failed, he enlisted in the First Engineering Regiment in Versailles and ended up as a cook. He repeatedly requested pilot's training.

Aerial service He ultimately qualified as a pilot in June 1911, after 19 lessons. On 12 March 1912, he enlisted in the French military and received his military pilot's license at Avord, France, in January 1913. He scored his first victory on the 28th. By the year's end, he was up to four and had been promoted to adjutant.

Precisely six years after Armistice Day, at age 32, Madon was killed in his native Tunisia preparing for a tribute to fellow airman Roland Garros. His aircraft suffered mechanical trouble, and he gallantly crashed it into the roof of a villa rather than hit spectators.

Citations for decorations According to the Ministry of Defense's biography on George Felix Madon:

"Georges Felix Madon, Lieutenant temporary (active) engineer, pilot aviator, officer elite fighter pilot of an indomitable energy, heroic bravery and supreme skill. Also winner in the ordinary course of committed countless battles without concern of many opponents, or the removal of our lines, never reached even a single bullet through the devastating speed of his attacks, the precision of his maneuvers, the infallibility of his marksmanship, wounded sometimes in terrible falls, leads tirelessly by his splendid example, the squadron under his command and it shows every day with new exploits. On 11 August 1918, he destroyed his 40th enemy plane. One injury. Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur for war. Nineteen citations. "