ov ic ▁Ar rach art ▁( 1 5 ▁August ▁ 1 8 9 7 , ▁Bes an çon ▁- ▁ 2 4 ▁May ▁ 1 9 3 3 , ▁Mais ons ) ▁was ▁a ▁French ▁ ▁av i ator . ▁ ▁His ▁long - distance ▁fl ights ▁made ▁him ▁a ▁pione er ▁of ▁inter cont inental ▁av iation . ▁He ▁not ably ▁beat ▁two ▁world ▁records ▁: ▁first ▁flying ▁a ▁B reg uet ▁ 1 9 ▁ ▁from ▁Ét amp es ▁to ▁Villa ▁C is ner os ▁in ▁Africa ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 2 5 ▁and ▁flying ▁a ▁P ote z ▁ 2 8 ▁ ▁from ▁Paris ▁to ▁Bas ra ▁in ▁Ira q ▁( in ▁ 1 9 2 6 , ▁with ▁his ▁brother ▁Paul ) ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 2 6 . ▁ ▁He ▁en list ed ▁in ▁the ▁French ▁Army ▁at ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁serving ▁in ▁the ▁ 3 5 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment . ▁W ounded ▁twice , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Serge ant ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 6 , ▁before ▁being ▁declared ▁un fit ▁for ▁duty ▁in ▁the ▁inf antry ▁and ▁transfer ring ▁to ▁the ▁Arm ée ▁de ▁l ' A ir ▁as ▁an ▁observer ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 7 , ▁and ▁qual ifying ▁as ▁a ▁pilot ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 8 . ▁He ▁commanded ▁a ▁squad ron ▁based ▁in ▁Alexand rett a , ▁Sy ria , ▁from ▁ 1 9 1 9 ▁to ▁ 1 9 2 2 ,