René Fonck | Timeline

Colonel René Paul Fonck (27 March 1894 – 18 June 1953) was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top Allied 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 (72 solo and three shared) 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. (Intro from Wikipedia)

March 27, 1894 - Saulcy-sur-Meurthe, Vosges - René Paul Fonck is born

August 22, 1914 - near Épinal - Fonck is conscripted but rejected for immediate incorporation in the Air Service. instead he was requested to undergo five months basic training in the combat engineers

February 15, 1915 - St.Cyr | Le Crotoy - Fonck is accepted into basic flying training

May 13, 1915 - Corcieux - Fonck completes his pilot training and joins Escadrille C47 flying observation aircraft =(START)

June 16, 1915 - Corcieux - Promoted to Caporal

August 21, 1915 - Corcieux - Promoted to Sergeant

June 21, 1916 - Estrèes-St.Denis - Promoted to Adjutant

August 6, 1916 - Estrèes-St.Denis - Fonck resolutely attacks two strongly armed enemy planes, takes on one in pursuit, and by a series of bold and skillful maneuvers, forces it to land uninjured within allied lines (1 total)

March 1, 1917 - Hamel - Promoted to Adjutant-Chef

March 17, 1917 - N of Cerny-en-Laonnois - 1 Albatros victory (2 total)

April 15, 1917 - Bonnemaison - Fonck is invited to Join "Escadrille les Cigognes" fighter wing. The future french ace is assigned to Spa 103

May 5, 1917 - Berry-au-Bac - 1 Rumpler victory (3 total)

May 11, 1917 - Aguilcourt - 1 Albatros victory (4 total)

May 13, 1917 - Nogent l'Abbesse - 1 EA victory (5 total)
June 12, 1917 - Cauroy-Cormicy - 1 Albatros victory (6 total)
July 12, 1917 - Coudekerque-Branche - Spa 103 moves out
August 9, 1917 - over Dunkerque - 1 Fokker victory (7 total)
August 12, 1917 - St.Pol-sur-Mer - Spa 103 moves out
August 19, 1917 - 1 Albatros victory (8 total)
August 20, 1917 - 1 EA victory (9 total)
August 21, 1917 - over Dixmuide - 1 victory (10 total)
August 22, 1917 - NE of Ypres - 1 EA victory (11 total)
September 14, 1917 - E of Langemarck - 1 EA victory (12 total)
September 15, 1917 - over Zonnebeke - 1 EA victory (13 total)
September 23, 1917 - S of Houthulst - 1 victory (14 total)
September 27, 1917 - Coudekerque-Branche - Spa 103 moves out
September 30, 1917 - Poperinghe, near Dunkerque - Fonck shoots down Kurt Wissemann (15 total)
October 17, 1917 - 2 EA victories (17 total)
October 21, 1917 - over Paschendaele - 1 EA victory (18 total)
October 27, 1917 - over Westroosebeke - 1 EA victory (19 total)
November 21, 1917 - Coudekerque-Branche(?) - Fonck is awarded the Medal of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur
November 30, 1917 - Coudekerque-Branche(?) - Promoted to Sous-Lieutenant
December 11, 1917 - Maisonneuve - Spa 103 moves out
January 12, 1918 - Beauzée-sur-Aire - Spa 103 moves out
January 19, 1918 - over Beaumont | Samogneux - 2 (Fokker + EA) victories (21 total)
February 5, 1918 - over Sarrebruck - 1 victory (22 total)
February 18, 1918 - over Caurieres-Bezonvaux - 1 Albatros victory (23 total)
February 19, 1918 - over Montfaucon - 1 Albatros victory (24 total)
February 26, 1918 - over Dieppe | Montfaucon - 2 victories (26 total)
March 7, 1918 - Lhéry - Spa 103 moves out
March 15, 1918 - over Bermercourt-Oratuville | N of Courtecon - 2 victories (28 total)
March 16, 1918 - over Nogent l'Abbesse - 1 victory (29 total)
March 17, 1918 - N of Meneville - 1 Pfalz D.III victory (30 total)
March 24, 1918 - Mesnil-St.Georges - Spa 103 moves out
March 28, 1918 - Base: Raray | E of Montdidier - Spa 103 moves out - 1 EA victory (31 total)
March 29, 1918 - over Montdidier - 2 victories (33 total)
April 8, 1918 - Hétomesnil - Spa 103 moves out
April 12, 1918 - Over Piennes-Montdidier | Moreuil - 2 victories (35 total)
April 22, 1918 - over Assainvillers-le-Monchel - 1 victory (36 total)
May 9, 1918 - S of Moreuil | Montdidier | Harlecourt-Braches - 6 two-seater victories (42 total)
May 12, 1918 - Hétomesnil - Fonck is awarded the medal of Officier de la Légion d'honneur
May 15, 1918 - Hétomesnil - Fonck is promoted to Lieutenant
May 19, 1918 - over Montdidier - 2 EA victories (44 total)
May 25, 1918 - over Villers-aux-erables | Montdidier | Cautoire - 3 Fokker/Halberstadt victories (47 total)
June 5, 1918 - Sacy-le-Grand - Spa 103 moves out
June 7, 1918 - Hétomesnil - Spa 103 moves out
June 26, 1918 - Hétomesnil - Fonck is promoted to Capitaine
June 27, 1918 - over Morisel | Moreuil - 2 Fokker/Halberstadt victories (49 total)
July 16, 1918 - over Dormans | S of Dormans - 2 EA victories (51 total)
July 17, 1918 - Trécon - Spa 103 moves out
July 18, 1918 - over Cachery - 2 victories (53 total)
July 19, 1918 - over Chatillon | Dormans - 3 EA victories (56 total)
July 24, 1918 - Herbisse - Spa 103 moves out
July 28, 1918 - Hétomesnil - Spa 103 moves out
August 1, 1918 - E of Bois de Hangard - 1 victory (57 total)
August 10, 1918 - Colombes - Sports party at Colombes. Fonck is photographed next to boxer Georges Carpentier
August 14, 1918 - over Roye |Gruny-Cremery | Roye-Chaulnes - 3 EA victories (60 total)
September 3, 1918 - Auzainvilliers-Quinquempoix - Spa 103 moves out
September 10, 1918 - Lisle-en-Barrois - Spa 103 moves out
September 19, 1918 - La Noblette - Spa 103 moves out
September 26, 1918 - St.Marie-a-Py | St.Souplet | E of Souain | Perthes-les-Hurles - 6 Fokker/Halberstadt victories (66 total)
September 28, 1918 - NE of Somme-Py - 1 victory (67 total)
October 5, 1918 - over Liry-Mirvaux | Mauvine-St.Clements - 2 victories (69 total)
October 30, 1918 - over Falise-Vouzieres | Semay-Terron - 3 victories (72 total)
October 31, 1918 - N/E of Vouzieres - 2 victories (74 total)

November 1, 1918 - Base: Hauviné | E of Vouzieres - Spa 103 moves out - 1 Halberstadt victory (75 total)
November 13, 1918 - Laneuveville-devant-Bayon - Spa 103 moves out
December 6, 1918 - Haguenau - Spa 103 moves out
December 15, 1918 - Neustadt-Lachen Speyerdorf - Spa 103 moves out
February 7, 1919 - Neustadt-Lachen Speyerdorf(?) - Fonck is promoted to Captaine
February 8, 1919 - Le Havre(?) - Fonck boards the ship "La Touraine" bound for the US, but is called back at last minute by the War Minister
April 1(?), 1919 - Paris - Aerial demonstration with american troops for President Wilson
April 27, 1919 - Villacoublay - Fonck leaves the Spa 103 and is transfered to the Villacoublay Test Center
July 14, 1919 - Champs Elysées, Paris - Victory Parade - Fonck carries the french flag
August 11, 1919 - Paris - Ken Wang, a Chinese Army captain in delegation to the "Congrès de la Paix" asks Fonck for an autograph
September 4, 1919 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Fonck takes 3rd place in the "Circuit de Hollande", a promotion action for the french "aéronautique"
October 18, 1919 - Paris(?) - Fonck is demobilised
November 7, 1919 - Fonck is decorated with the Order of Saint-Maurice and Saint-Lazare
November 16, 1919 - Paris - Fonck becomes MP for Vosges at the "Assemblée Nationale"
January(?) 1(?), 1920 - Fonck publishes his memoirs "Mes Combats", prefaced by Marechal Foch
July 1(?), 1920 - Antwerp - Participates in the International Aviation Contest, invited by the King Albert and Queen Élizabeth of Belgium
July 23, 1920 - Laeken, Belgium - Fonck is received by King Albert at his château
September 19, 1920 - Vichy - Inauguration of a monument in memory of Eugène Gilbert, aviator. Fonck represents the Aéro-Club de France
July 8, 1921 - Paris(?) - Fonck is elected President of the French Aeronautics League
September 28, 1921 - Paris - Attends the funeral of his friend, Bernard Barny de Romanet
June 4, 1922 - Chalon-sur-Saône - "Aerial reunion"
July 24, 1922 - Paris - Santos-Dumont offers a banquet to aviation personalities, including Fonck
July 27, 1922 - Paris(?) - Fonck is given the tie of Commander of the Légion d'Honneur from Marshal Fayolle.
August 10(?), 1922 - Bordeaux(?) - Fonck departs to Brazil in a diplomatic mission
August 18, 1922 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Fonck arrives in Rio de Janeiro

René Fonck (middle) with
Santos-Dumont (left)

September 4, 1922 - Rio de Janeiro - Santos-Dumont offers a banquet to aviation personalities, including Fonck
October 4, 1922 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Fonck is received by the President of Argentina
October 7, 1922 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Conference about the state of Aviation
December 15(?), 1922 - Rio de Janeiro(?) - Fonck boards a ship to France
August 15, 1923 - Épinal - Fonck presides the organization of an aerial meeting with the Aéro-Club de Vosges
May 4, 1924 - Cornimont - Fonck addresses 160 electors and is applauded
May 31, 1924 - Paris - End of Fonck's mandate for Vosges at the "Assemblée Nationale"
March 29, 1925 - Le Borget - Promoting Aviation
May 27, 1925 - Fonck looses the Presidency of the French Aeronautics League
September 30, 1925 - Cherbourg - Departs to the United States aboard the "RMS Olympic"
October 6, 1925 - New York City - The "RMS Olympic" arrives in New York
October 10, 1925 - Mitchell Field, New York - Fonck attends the Pulitzer Trophy Air Races (Next to Mitchell Field) until October 12th
October 29, 1925 - Washington - Visit to the White House and to the French Embassy, with Major Georges Thenault
January 15(?), 1926 - New York City - Fonck departs to France
January 23, 1926 - Cherbourg(?) - Fonck returns home to seek additional french backing for his shot at Orteig's Prize
March 24, 1926 - Paris(?) - Fonck announces his plans to the World - He would fly from Central Park in New York to rue du Bois-de-Boulogne in Paris in an american-made plane
April 27, 1926 - Le Havre - Fonck departs to the United States
May 5(?), 1926 - New York City - Fonck arrives in New York Harbor in "early May"
September 15, 1926 - Roosevelt Field, New York - Final trial flight of the Sikorsky Plane for the proposed non-stop flight from New York to Paris
September 21, 1926 - Roosevelt Field, New York - Fonck crashes on takeoff for a transatlantic race, when the landing gear collapses, killing 2 of his 3 crewmembers
January 1, 1927 - Paris (?) - Fonck returns to Paris
October 1, 1927 - New York City - Fonck boards the ship "Île de France" to France
October 8(?), 1927 - Le Havre - Fonck returns to France
May 29, 1928 - New York City - Fonck arrives in the United States aboard the "SS Paris"
July 1(?), 1928 - Washington - Fund-collecting trip
September 6(?), 1928 - New York City - Departs to France
September 14, 1928 - Le Havre(?) - Fonck returns to France
October 1(?), 1928 - Berlin, Germany - Fonck attends International Aviation Exhibition - Meets german ace Ernst Udet
December 28, 1928 - Paris - René Fonck meets Ernst Udet in a reception to the german ace by the Aéro-club de France
June 16, 1929 - Fonck is awarded the Medal of Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur
May 1(?), 1932 - Paris - Living in Paris
February 23, 1934 - Brussels - Attends the funeral of King Albert I of Belgium
April 12, 1934 - Paris - Fonck presents a conference of his friend Willy Coppens, the belgian ace of aces
May 6, 1934 - Vosges - Attends a meeting of ex-combatants of Vosges Department
June 25, 1935 - Fonck is promoted to Commandant
July 12, 1936 - Paris - Fonck is decorated Grand Officier de la Légion d'honneur by President Albert Lebrun
July 15, 1936 - Paris - Fonck marries Iréne Brillant
November 1(?), 1936 - Paris - Fonck's son Edmond is born
January(?) 1(?), 1937 - Fonck is appointed Inspector of the Fighter Aviation
June 20, 1937 - Fraize - Fonck presides to the Great Military Party of the underofficers in reserve of the Canton of Fraize
July 4, 1938 - Fonck is promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel
September 10, 1938 - Le Bourget - Fonck present at a ceremony in memory of Captain Georges Guynemer
September 1(?), 1939 - Placed at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force
April 9, 1940 - Fonck is promoted to Colonel in Reserve
June 15, 1940 - Luc-en-Provence - Fonck travels to Luc-en-Provence on the grounds of the Combat Group III/6 to announce to Pierre Le Gloan (author of a quintuple) his promotion to second-lieutenant
July 14, 1940 - Fonck is appointed Technical Advisor to General Bergeret, Minister of the Air - Daughter Marie-Anne is born
July 27, 1940 - Vichy - Fonck attends the Mass anniversary of Marshal Lyautey's death
August 10, 1940 - Vichy Foreign Minister Pierre Laval announces that Fonck had recruited 200 french pilots to fight on the nazi side
September 6, 1940 - Aulnat - Assigned to the Air Battalion No. 117 - Assigned to the GHQ as Inspector General of Fighters and Equipment of the Air Force
September 30, 1940 - After France's defeat, Fonck is demobilized
October 8, 1940 - Berlin - Fonck meets Hermann Göring
November 9, 1940 - Paris - Fonck is sent to France to control what Laval and Göring had talked about in their interview
January 17, 1941 - Paris - Fonck arrives in Paris to support the politics of Laval
January 22, 1941 - Vichy(?) - Fonck becomes member of the National Council of Vichy
January 30(?), 1941 - Vichy(?) - Fonck is one of the 213 national advisors named by Pétain to represent the diversity of France
March 17, 1942 - Vichy(?) - Fonck is received by Pétain
June 30(?), 1944 - Drancy - Fonck is arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Drancy Camp
September 7, 1944 - Santé Prison, Montparnasse, Paris - Fonck is arrested in Santé Prison
December 24, 1944 - Paris - Fonck is released and acquitted of all charges
June 6, 1953 - Paris - René Fonck suffers a brain haemorrage and dies, aged 59 =(END)