Remembering the “Leadership and Valor” of Squadron Leader René Mouchotte
Growing up in the aftermath of the First World War, René Mouchotte developed an early fascination with the tales of legendary aviators and their pioneering exploits.
So greatly inspired he was, that when the time came for him to fulfill his military service in 1935, he did so by choosing to enlist with the Armée de l’Air — The French Air Force.
Upon the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, he was mobilized in defense of his nation, but not in the capacity he so desired…
Naturally, René wanted to make use of his hard-earned pilot’s brevet, only, because his talents as a flyer were so immense, his superiors decided to make him an instructor instead.
Ultimately posted to a training establishment in Oran, Algeria, it was there, on June 22nd, 1940, that he learned of his government’s surrender to Hitler’s Germany.
In his refusal to accept defeat, though, he resolved that he had to reach the one country that was still fighting — Great Britain; and so, on June 30th, commandeered a crippled aircraft which, incredibly, he flew all the way to British Gibraltar.
