Adjt. Antonin Gauthier

[Michael]

You may be wondering about the handsome Frenchman who graces my page.

He's Adjt. Antonin Gauthier of SPA 80. He was my mother's cousin, and was killed in a collision in 1918.

His details, courtesy of Christophe are:

Antonin Gauthier (matricule 2663):

-Caporal, came to N 80 on 6 April 1917 from the GDE (Groupe des Divisions d’Entraînement – new pilots were usualy sent to this unit before being sent to the front. He was probably with pilot schools until that).
-Promoted Sergent 21 May 1917. Left N 80 on 16 October 1917 to Hospital for convalescence.
-Returned to Spa 80 on 10 March 1918 (N 80 had became Spa 80 upon re-equipment with Spad fighters during the second part of October 1917).
-Promoted Adjudant 20 August 1918.
-Killed in accident on 16 September 1918, in a mid-air collision with a new member of Spa 80 : Lieutenant Jean Fieschi (not harmed).

Thanks also to Rick Duiven and Michael Dailey for their information.