Source: File: Sub-Lieutenant
Charles Nungesser alongside his
morbid insignia. [online] See an original image at: <http://www.opex360.com/2015/07/27/hussard-de-la-grande-guerre-charles-nungesser-le-parrain-de-la-54e-promotion-de-lecole-militaire-interarmes/> [Accessed: 24 June 2016]
A Parisian Charles Nungesser,
An experienced
born adventurer
And sportsman, went as a teenager
In search of
his missing uncle.
On a mission of discovery Charles
Travelled to
South America, here
He worked in
Buenos Aires - first
As an auto
mechanic then a racer.
From
professional racer Charles
Then learned to
fly - on finding
His uncle, the young
Nungesser
Worked on his
sugar plantation.
When war broke out at home
22 year old Charles Nungesser,
Returned to join 2nd Regiment
Hussars, in first months of war.
September 3rd 1914, this soldier
As part of a patrol, was mentioned
In despatches - with their officer
In despatches - with their officer
Wounded the men took shelter.
With his fellow soldiers Nungesser
Halted a car, occupied by German
Staff, who they
rapidly despatched,
To discover
valuable enemy papers.
Nungesser took charge of
driving,
At speed returning them to safety -
Stolen by Germans the French car
Was a Mors; to
give him a nickname.
The 'Mors Hussar'
had impressed
His superiors, to
be given Medaille
Militaire along with the car - some
Days later he
passed a few poilu's.
They questioned
his role - a youth
Driving around
in a car while they
Fought in the
trenches - to prompt
Nungesser
requesting a transfer.
With his skill
at flying, the soldier
Joined Service Aeronautique -
Yet adventurer Charles
Nungesser
Was not a man
for disciplined rules.
He liked
everything fast, not just
Engines but women
too - home
In Paris led to his
reputed meeting
With an exotic
dancer, Mata Hari.
As Aviator the
French pilot was
Mentioned 3 times
in despatches;
Taking part in 53
bombardments,
To gain Croix de Guerre
by 1915.
31 July 1915 Nungesser with his
Mechanic Pochon, on
standby, took
Up a Voisin 3 - to
fight five Albatros'
Shooting one down
near Nancy.
On return Nungesser went under
House arrest,
having gone against
Orders - then received a decoration
Before being sent
away to Nieuport.
The Nungesser legend had begun -
The pilot’s
grim insignia; freebooters
Skull and crossbones
below a coffin,
Either
side a candle, in a black heart.
The image of Nungesser's morbid
Humour appeared
on all his crafts -
A display of
his aerobatics above
Nancy, resulted
in suspended arrest.
By start of 1916 Nungesser's daring
Resulted in a
terrible accident - when
Testing a craft, a control stick broke
His mouth's
roof to dislocate his jaw.
Along with two
broken legs and
Ribs, found him
unconscious for
Five days -
invalided from hospital,
A frustrated Nungesser
flew again.
In two months he was back in cockpit -
He shot down an
enemy balloon
And two crafts - Nungesser found
Himself promoted to
Sub-Lieutenant.
With a report of
his 'charmed life,'
Nungesser, during
June 1916,
Encountered 6
enemy; 3 Fokkers
And 3 Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft.
In a situation, he employed a trick
To fly between L.V.G.
and Fokkers -
Amid six enemies’
they did not fire,
To avoid
shooting each other down.
Sub-Lieutenant Nungesser made
His return in safety - he had taken
28 shots in the
plane's body, seven
In the engine,
one hitting his shoe.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Aviator's Charmed Life. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 24 June 1916. P.10.
Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211360/Daily-Telegraph-June-24-1916.html
[Accessed: 24 June 2016].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 24 June 2016).
Source:
File: Charles Nungesser Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Nungesser> [Accessed 24 June 2016]
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