The WWI French ace Georges Guynemer used to say:

• «Il y a une limite à toute chose, et il faut toujours la dépasser.» “Everything has a limit which has always got to be surpassed.”
• «Lorsque l’on n’a pas tout donné, on n’a rien donné.» “As long as you have not given your all, you give nothing”

Last but not least, captain Guynemer’s most famous phrase – «Faire face» “Face up to it” was then adopted by the French Air Force Academy (FAFA) as their motto. A few words that well expresses the French pilots’ bravery.

Loyal to these principles, the French ace took part in several hundreds of aerial combats, crediting 53 victories. He was shot down seven times, and he was admired for he always survived, but that September 11… Ninety-two years ago. The hero took off once again. Outnumbered by German warplanes in a last dogfighting over Belgium. Then, he fell.

RIP