Marcel Bloch (aviator)
Introduction Sous Lieutenant '''Marcel Robert Leopold Bloch''' was a World War I flying ace who fought for the French on both Eastern and Western Fronts. He was credited with five aerial victories, all scored against German observation balloons.
World War I service Bloch volunteered for the French military on 7 September 1916, and was assigned to aviation service. After pilot training, he was granted Military Pilot's Brevet No. 2571 on 12 October 1915.Bloch was originally assigned to fly a Nieuport for ''Escadrille 3'' but transferred to ''Escadrille 62'' on 25 May 1916.He became a balloon buster ace, destroying five German observation balloons between 26 June and 1 October 1916.In the process of destroying number three, on 3 July 1916, he was seriously wounded twice. He downed his last two on 30 September and 1 October.In 1917, Bloch was transferred from combat duty to a military mission. On 23 March, he was transferred to the Russian Front. He sustained serious injuries on 8 May 1917, when he suffered a flying accident. After many months in hospital, he was assigned to the French Mission to the United States on 10 September 1918.
Postwar life On 1 March 1919, Bloch returned to France. He would never recover from his war wounds, succumbing to them 29 March 1938 in Czechoslovakia.
Honors and awards *''Légion d'Honneur''*''Médaille Militaire''*''Croix de Guerre''*Russian Order of Saint George*Russian Order of Saint Ann
References
Sources * Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). ''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918.'' Grub Street Publishing. . * Franks, Norman (2000). ''Nieuport Aces of World War 1.'' Osprey Publishing, 2000., .