Diddier Mason

I have just started researching the life of Diddier Mason. Born in France and to the US as a child, learned to fly and worked for one of the Mexican Generalissimos in 1912 as an airborne mercenary. Next was the Lafayette Escadrille.
My questions for the Aerodrome are 1. Dates with the Lafayette Escd? 2. Combat record? 3. What did he do after the War?
I would appreciate any help, including a point in the right direction for references or sources.

cheers.

[Ira_Silverman]

There is an article in the current issue of *Aviation History* magazine that covers Didier Masson's career as a mercenary in Mexico, primarily his attack on a a Mexican Gunboat. It briefly mentions his time with the Lafayette Escadrille and his post-war activities.

[Barrett]

Boom:

Hey, amigo, sorry I didn't pay closer attention to this thread before. According to Ed Parsons' chart in "I Flew for the Lafayette Escadrille," Masson's service was:

French army c. sept-oct 14
pilot training oct 14-mar 15
C.18 Mar-Sep 15
N.68 Sep 15-Apr 16
instructor Cazeaux Apr - Jun 16
Lafayette Jun 16-Oct 17 (instructor feb-jun 17)
N.46 remainder '17
Instructor Issoudun til armistice

I have it on excellent authority that Didier Masson never launched or trapped in an A-4, but that don't make him a bad person...

[Boom]

Great beginning. Did not even spell his name correctly. It is DIDIER MASSON, mnemonic; middle letters one D, two S's. Dug out the Av History article. There is mention of a possible Fokker kill. Can anyone confirm? Would you believe the French sent him back thru flight training? He will make a splendid model for a fictional character in my next novel.

cheers, Boom

[Barrett]

The chart with Parsons' book indicates one victory in October 1916--no details. It may not have been confirmed, as I've noted one or two others apparently had claims that don't appear on victory lists. Basically, there were two kinds of pilots in N.124: Lufbery and everybody else.

[Ira_Silverman]

Boom:

Masson shot down a Fokker on 12 October, 1916 while flying a Nieuport with N.124. It was one of the more remarkable incidents of the war.

Masson had the Fokker lined up in his sights when his engine quit, apparently for lack of fuel (his tank had been nicked during the fight). He tried to hold altitude and glide back to his lines. The German pilot, sensing the problem turned to attack and riddled Masson's plane. However, in his haste to attack, the German dove under and overshot Masson's Nieuport, placing himself directly in the Nieuport's line of fire. Masson shot the Fokker down in flames.

Masson landed just beyond his lines, barely escaping an artillery barrage which destroyed his plane.

This story comes from a wonderful source on the fliers of the Lafayette Escadrille, "Lafayette Escadrille Pilot Biographies" by Dennis Gordon. You may be able to contact him through:

The Doughboy Historical Society
P.O. Box 3912
Missoula, Montana 59806

Good Luck and Best regards,

Ira

[Boom]

Ira,
many thanks for the Masson story. It once again proves that truth is stranger than fiction.

cheers, Boom