Comments to 100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

Pégoud also was the first pilot to make a parachute jump from an airplane. He also became a popular instructor of French and other European fledgling pilots. On 31 August 1915, Pégoud was shot down by one of his prewar German students, Unteroffizier Walter Kandulski, while intercepting a German reconnaissance aircraft. He was 26 years old. The same German crew later dropped a funeral wreath above the French lines. That's why we call 'em the Knights of the Air-they kept it civil ...at times...

Indeed and in addition to the above there was an incorrect report that two weeks later Kandulski was shot down by the French pilot Roger Ronserail. In fact Kandulski survived the war.