Jacques Roques

Capitaine Jacques Raphaël Roques (2 August 1897 – 24 May 1988) was a Swiss citizen who flew for the French during World War I, where he was credited with five aerial victories. He returned to military service during World War II, and served with the French Resistance from the fall of France to war's end.

Background and early life Roques was born in Paris to a Swiss father and a Venezuelan mother. He was still a student when the war broke out in August 1914, and in October 1914, while preparing for his baccalauréat, he attended a preparatory school close to Lycée Carnot where he befriended Robert Bajac, whom he would later serve alongside and share several aerial victories. He then learned to fly, being awarded Aéro-Club de France civilian pilot licence No. 2279 on 15 September 1915, In 1930 he was listed as the owner of two Morane-Saulnier-built DH.60 Moths, F-AJQC and F-AJQD, and was still flying the latter in 1934. He transferred to the Armée de l'air when it became independent of the army in 1934, and on 30 May 1936 was made an Officier of the Légion d'honneur.

World War II service Roques was recalled to serve in the air force on 25 August 1939, with the rank of captain. Posted to Base airenne 112 at Chartres, he served as second-in-command of the 2e escadrille of Groupe de Chasse I/1, then as second-in-command of the entire Groupe from 10 January 1940. He was discharged from the air force on 31 July 1940, following the fall of France, but became an active member of the French Resistance for the rest of the war.

Roques died in Paris on 24 May 1988.