The youngest French military pilot of the First World War, who died in the last year of the war, at the age of 18.
The youngest French military pilot of the First World War, who died in the last year of the war, at the age of 18.
Jean Corentin Carré was born on January 9, 1900 in Le Faouët, in the Morbihan department, into the family of a day laborer.
When the war began, Jean's father was called to the front. The 14-year-old boy also tried to go to the front as a volunteer, but, naturally, he was refused.
However, in April 1915, Jean ran away from home, went to the south-west of France and appeared at the draft office of the city of Pau.
There, Jean said that his name was Auguste Dutoy, he was born on April 10, 1897 in Rumigny, in the Ardennes. The choice of place of birth was not accidental: Rumigny was in the zone of occupation and the military authorities could not request confirmation of the recruit's civil status.
Therefore, Jean was assigned to the 410th Infantry Regiment and went to the front on October 20, 1915.
Carré began the war in Champagne as a soldier of the 2nd class, and in January 1916 he was promoted to corporal. In June 1916, a 16-year-old boy became a sergeant.
While fighting near Reims, on November 15, 1916, he received his first mention in the order and the Military Cross (Croix de Guerre) for a captured German soldier. Since he was awarded under a false name, there was a danger that his secret would be revealed. Jean decided to confess to the forgery. On December 29, 1916, he wrote a letter to his colonel, in which he confessed to deceit, revealed his real age and name.
He risked a severe punishment, but the corps commander showed understanding - on January 1, 1917, he promoted him to ajudan.
However, the high command was not so loyal: the 17-year-old non-commissioned officer was stripped of his rank and demoted to the soldiers. On February 7, 1917, in the military office in Châlons-sur-Marne, Jean Corentin Carré again became a conscript, but this time legally.
However, at the insistence of the colonel commanding the 410th regiment, Jean was returned to his former rank, and three months later he again became a non-commissioned officer.
On June 16, 1917, he received another award, this time by divisional order.
At the end of June 1917, Carre filed a rapport for a transfer to aviation. In July 1917, he became a pilot cadet at the Dijon flying school, trained at Etampes, and on October 3, 1917 received a pilot's diploma (No. 6642) at Avord. Carré was assigned to 229 Squadron, at the Meuse.
On March 18, 1918, Jean Carentin Carré was killed in aerial combat over Souilly. This earned him his last, posthumous quote, this time in an army order: “Ajudan Carré Jean Corentin of the 410th Infantry Regiment, pilot of Squadron SO 229. March 18, died heroically in action, attacked by three enemy aircraft. He defended himself vigorously until his plane was shot down."
When Jean's plane was shot down, he was still alive. The 18-year-old pilot was taken to a hospital in Souyi, where he died of his wounds.
Pilot Jean Corentin Carré is buried in the National Necropolis of Rembercourt-au-Pot (Meuse).
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