World War I French Flying Ace. At the end of the war his 75 total victories made Rene Fonck the leading Allied air ace. His decorations from the French Air Force included the Medaille Militaire, the Legion d'Honneur, and the Officier de la Legion d'Honneur. He was also awarded the British Military Cross, and the British Distinguished Conduct Medal. In 1926, Fonck's attempt to win the $25,000 Orteig Prize for being the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean ended when his Sikorsky S. 35 Aircraft crashed on takeoff, killing two of the crewmembers. During World War II, allegations of collaboration with the Nazis and their Vichy government in France arose, and followed Fonck until after the war, when an investigation cleared him. Despite his supposed collaboration, Fonck was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo. Rene Fonck died at age 59 and was buried in the cemetery of his home town of Saulcy-sur-Meurthe.
World War I French Flying Ace. At the end of the war his 75 total victories made Rene Fonck the leading Allied air ace. His decorations from the French Air Force included the Medaille Militaire, the Legion d'Honneur, and the Officier de la Legion d'Honneur. He was also awarded the British Military Cross, and the British Distinguished Conduct Medal. In 1926, Fonck's attempt to win the $25,000 Orteig Prize for being the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean ended when his Sikorsky S. 35 Aircraft crashed on takeoff, killing two of the crewmembers. During World War II, allegations of collaboration with the Nazis and their Vichy government in France arose, and followed Fonck until after the war, when an investigation cleared him. Despite his supposed collaboration, Fonck was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo. Rene Fonck died at age 59 and was buried in the cemetery of his home town of Saulcy-sur-Meurthe.
Inscription
"Colonel René FONCK - L'As des As - 1894-1953 - Député des Vosges - 1919-1924".
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