Charles Nungesser

Born in Paris, he spent his childhood in Valenciennes, his mother’s home town. He was a student at the National Vocational School of Armentières from 1905 to 1907. At the age of 15, he moved to South America where he pursued various professions: boxer and cow herder, among others. He enlisted in the army upon his return to France. He received a Regiment Citation after just six days of combat for killing two German officers and returning with their car and the documents it contained. He then joined the VB 166 squadron in Dunkirk. He was transferred to Nancy as a fighter pilot and took part in the Battle of Verdun. He returned to Dunkirk in 1917. After the War, he attempted to make a non-stop flight across the Atlantic and probably perished in flight on 8 May 1927.