French pilots called Fequant

Hi,

On a recent visit to a church in Saint Tropez, I came across a plaque in memory of French aviators Capit.ne A. Fequant (1886 to 1915) and S Lieut P. Fequant (1886 -1917).

Anyone have details of these men?

Were they related?

How did they die?

Hope you can assist.

wilko.

[Rick]

Wilko: Using the Bailey and Cony tome on the French Air Chronology, I have pulled out the following:

6Sep15: Sgt. Charles Niox, P, OK and Capt. Albert Féquant, O, KIA, Esc. VB 102.

13Apr17: S/Lt. Paul Féquant, P, Lt. André Locquin, O, and Soldat Maurice Hutreau, G, Esc. F.72, all KIA Chalons-sur-Vesle, in a Salmson-Moineau, probably by Ltn. Heinrich Bongartz, Jasta 36, his 2nd.

I have no clue if they were related, but the plaque would certainly suggest that. Best I can do for you. R.

[Ira_Silverman]

Hi all,

It's probably worth stating that Captain Albert Fequant has been somewhat immortalized in a painting by noted French war artist Henry Farre.

The painting, "The Tragic Return of Captain Albert Fequant" shows the Captain sprawled over the edge of the cockpit of his Voisin during the return flight from the front lines.

A copy of the painting appears in Farre's Sky Fighters of France (Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1919).

Best,

Ira

[ONEALM]

Ira has this correct as usual.

There were at least two paintings of the Capt. by Farre. The first is an in flight view with Fequant hanging dramitically over the edge of the Voison, the side of which is smeared with blood. It's a neat contrast between the white fuselage, red smear and the blue cross of Lorraine.

The second is more thougful compositionally. It's a ground scene with a throng gathered around the Voison, Fequant's pilot standing at attention in the cockpit saluting and a crowd bringing Fequents body down out of the Voison. Farre purposely turned Fequent upside down - i.e. shoulder's first, feet higher, spead out with his arms to the side in a cruciform shape. It's a device used in many of the images of Christ being brought down from the cross .......

The other interesting thing is that Fequant is shown in his dress uniform - blue tunic top and red pants. I think the red is the only red in the painting and a focal point. The side of the Voison which was smeared with blood in the aerial view is now wiped clean - artistic license to avoid drawing attention away from the body of Fequant.

Really dramatic stuff.

Hi all,

Thanks for your very interesting replies.

I must say I was struck by the poignancy of the memorial when I visited the church in Saint Tropez.
It does seem a shame that there is no information in the church about these two men.

Could they be twin brothers?

If that is the case, it would be an extremely interesting story.
Why is the memorial in St Tropez? Were they from this region of France?

Why is there so little (apparantly) recorded in history about the bravery of FRENCH pilots?

wilko

ps...I am new to this field of research so please forgive me if I appear naive.

[gregoire]

About P Fequant even if I do not believe they were the same, there was a capitaine Phiippe Fequant with N65 with at least one victory (at least one confirmed in spring 16 he was the comending officer of N65 in june 16 the as Chef de Batailon (infantry major) he was in charge of GC13

If you are still lucky to be in St Tropez a few good people to ask for local history are the priest (but he may be lucky) or go the cinema in place des lices (if it still exist) and ask one the old ladies working there they will know who will know

Now why there is not much interest in french WW1 aviation I guess that for a few reason
1 its french (so not british or american)
2 it do not the "mysticism" of the german

now even in france there are not such an interest for ww1 plane and it is more easy to find a publication in french on the heinkel 24567 (I am a bit > on the subject I am talking of a Luftwafe 46 plane that have never flown but on paper) than of the Dorand (improperly named) AR1

[gregoire]

Now as I can not sleep I post an extra message about albert Fequant he was an early pre war pilot he was the first to land at St Dizier in 1910 on a Farman here are two links with picture of the even
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/robert.david/aviat...a113/hist1.html

[jempie]

Hello!
On Paul Féquant: I have no information...

See into the Hispano Suiza Golden book there was a Commander (Commandant with photo!) named as Féquant...but no other details given...see however Philippe Féquant below!

Féquant Albert : born at Paris;1886/01/02
KIA 1915/09/06...Pilots License n° 63. Studied at St-Cyr -Lieutenant . Started flying 1910. As passenger from Cpt. Marconnet established a flight durance record of 160 km in 2h30' on 9th June 1910.During the flight aerial photos were taken.He was the one who observated the German movements in Belgium on 1914/08/20th.From aerial observation went over to a bombsquad.Participated to important bomb raids.Killed 1915.09.15. The painting described, should be found at the Musée des Invalides.

Féquant PHILIPPE(!) French pilot born at Montmorency 1883/06/09
Also studied at St. Cyr.
1912 he has flown at Senegal. Was commander of an escadron of the 1ère Division Aérienne during WWI in 1918.
(No idea if that's the photo I have as "comandant"?)
Became "Géneral" and died on 1938/12/28!

So there are at least three Féquant's!
No idea if they were family!

Jempie.

Thanks for the biographical details. Clearly Philippe is not the Fequant mentioned on the memorial - because he died in 1928. Albert does appear to be correct.
Unresolved so far - are the three Fequants related? Why are the two Fequants commemorated in Saint Tropez?

There is a memorial there to other men killed in the Great War. But the Fequant's memorial is on its own.
The plaque says: A La Memoire Des Aviateurs....Tues en Combats Aeriens.

To the left of this memorial is one to du Sous-Lieutenant Victor Fournier 1869 - 1918.

They have pride of place in the church as far as remembering the war dead is concerned so there must be a reason for this.

???I was most interested to read the reply that there is more interest in German planes in France than in French aircraft. If this is the case, I wonder: why?

Anyone got any other theories?

Is it the same with the aviators themselves?

Thanks to you all.

wilko

[Amy]

Hi Wilko:

Here's what Cross & Cockade Summer 1971 contains concerning Capitaine Albert Féquant's fate:

Aircraft of Groupes 1, 2 and 4 attacked Saarbrücken on 6 September 1915. Of the twenty aircraft of Groupe de Bombardement 1, only seventeen reached the target, on which 93 90mm bombs, eight 155mm bombs and for the first time, a 58-centimeter cheddite aerial "torpedo" were dropped. Once again, considerable damage was caused.

Despite engine trouble on the return trip, three aircraft bombed the train station at Dieuze, a secondary target. A pair of Aviatik fighters caught up with one of the returning Voisins, of which Capitaine Albert Féquant was the airplane commander and Sergent Niox, the pilot. *At the outset of the German attack, Capitaine Féquant was mortally wounded, suffering three shots in the head, two in the legs and two more in the arms. Sergent Niox raised himself up in his seat in order to hold the body of his fallen comrade and continue shooting at the attackers. *"While he tried in vain to sit his unfortunate companion up, his adversaries withdrew. *He then returned to Nancy and, while smoking his pipe, accomplished a perfect landing before his astouned comrades. Behind him, the body of Capitaine Féquant presented a gruesome site".

The quote within the Cross & Cockade text comes from Rene De Chavagnes book, Le Groupe des Cigognes, Paris (1920), p. 192.