French colonel and pilot (died 1953)

René Fonck

Colonel René Paul Fonck was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top Entente fighter ace and, when all succeeding aerial conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries are also considered, Fonck still holds the title of "all-time Allied Ace of Aces". He received confirmation for 75 victories out of 142 claims. Taking into account his probable claims, Fonck's final tally could conceivably be nearer 100 or above. He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1918 and later a Commander of the Legion of Honor after the war, and raised again to the dignity of Grand Officer.

Born

1894

March 27

Died

Living

Era

1890s

Country

About

René, in brief

Colonel René Paul Fonck was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top Entente fighter ace and, when all succeeding aerial conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries are also considered, Fonck still holds the title of "all-time Allied Ace of Aces". He received confirmation for 75 victories out of 142 claims. Taking into account his probable claims, Fonck's final tally could conceivably be nearer 100 or above. He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1918 and later a Commander of the Legion of Honor after the war, and raised again to the dignity of Grand Officer.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Life timeline

Key dates

  1. 1894 Born

Also on March 27

What else happened on this day, through history

See all of March 27 →

Same-day contemporaries

Also born on March 27

See everything on March 27 →

Same-year contemporaries

Also born in 1894

Keep going

More to explore