Jean-Paul Favre De Thierrens

Jean-Paul Jacques Favre de Thierrens (18 February 189517 October 1973) was a World War I flying ace credited with five confirmed aerial victories and one unconfirmed one. His courageous service would earn him the Légion d'honneur and the Croix de guerre.

He would return to service during World War II, becoming active in espionage for the French Resistance while rising to the military rank of lieutenant colonel. His status in the Legion d'honneur was raised to Commander as a result of his continued service to his nation.

Early life Favre de Thierrens was born in Nîmes, France, on 18 February 1895. He was raised in a Calvinist family. He passed the exam to enter at the Ecole des Beaux-arts. He did not spend much time at the Beaux-arts as the first World War broke out.

Aviation service during World War I

His initial military service during World War I was in the 32nd Regiment d'Artillerie.

List of aerial victories See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Confirmed victories are numbered and listed chronologically. Unconfirmed victories are denoted by "u/c". No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes 1 21 October 1917 Spad VII Albatros two-seater Destroyed Chavignon, France 2 6 December 1917 Spad VII Fokker Triplane Destroyed Colligis-Crandelain, France 3 15 May 1918 Spad VII LVG two-seater Destroyed Monampteuil, France 4 25 May 1918 Spad VII Enemy aircraft Destroyed Ambrief, France u/c 31 May 1918 Spad VII Enemy two-seater Destroyed No official record of confirmation 5 4 June 1918 Spad VII Albatros D.V Destroyed Aisne River,

World War II Favre de Thierrens would return to service, rising to lieutenant colonel during World War II. He was the immediate superior of François Mitterrand. Later, on 12 September 1994, François Mitterrand in a television interview about his Vichyst past, talked about Favre de Thierrens as a colourful character. When the zone libre or free zone was invaded, he hide in his house at Ledenon, Gard the archives of the French secret services. His services would earn him a promotion to Commander in the Legion d'honneur, the award being made on 2 November 1945.

After World War II

After World War II, he moved back to his estate at Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard.

In 1953, at the age of 59 years, Favre de Thierrens started to paint and became a fine artist noted for figure studies. His first exhibition took place in 1955, followed by others in Switzerland and the US. He mainly painted women but not also his estate and the countryside of Provence.

In 1971, as he became blinded, he stopped painting.

Jean-Paul Jacques Favre de Thierrens died on 17 October 1973 in Paris. He is buried in Nîmes.

Endnotes