Robin, Louis Maria Omer August

The on-board shooter 1. world war I flying ace Fernando Jacquetem.

He was born 1. 6. 1893 in Brussels.

His military career began at 5. regiment of lancířů. 2. October, 1910, however, qualified as an observer on the aircraft Maurice Farman.

He served in the rank of lieutenant from the beginning of the war, unfortunately, lacking more accurate data, but obviously it belonged to the state 1. squadron Escadrille Demanet (I), later certainly served with the 1. fighter squadron (1ére Escadrille de Chasse).

We also know that 27. march 1915 as an observer took part in a pilot with the Jan Olieslagersem mission, where performed the tasks of the photographic survey, while it was one of the first photographic missions of the belgian air force at all.

Later he became friends with Fernando Jacquetem and this friendship lasted for decades. They were flying along almost continuously for three years, during which have achieved a number of successes.

The first kill was gained on 20. may 1916. Then in the evening patrol encountered with Jacquetem on the formation of ten enemy seaplanes, which is surrounded from all sides. This time it should be a real fight for life. Jacquet began to wildly maneuver and he was trying to escape. At one time in a strong tilt dodged the attack of one of the German five, when Robin the moment he gained an advantageous position to fire. His dose hit one of the attacking aircraft, which is breaking away from the fight and then shot his second. He was apparently hit by a worse, because it crashed to the earth near the town of Nieuport.

Further success was achieved on 23. 6. 1916. when the tandem Jacquet-Robin attacked a formation of 4 two-seater LVG, accompanied by three fighter Fokker. Followed by a furious fight, during which Robin was burning on all sides, while the Jacquet sharply maneuvered to the Germans to obstruct aiming. The belgian crew eventually happily escaped, although their Farman was full of holes after the missiles. Robin on the contrary, after the return claimed one Fokker as probably shot down, because the last time saw him in an uncontrolled fall. Ground observers in the front lines this time, however, testify that the Fokker crashed, and crashed, so the crew was granted a kill.

Busy was even 30. June. Credits Jacquet-Robin kicked off at 13:15 taking over Houthulstským through the woods attacked a pair of German LVG. Both the Germans they managed to fight back for their own lines.

After returning at 15:00 refuel and ammunition, and about half an hour later again took off. In the air join Farmanu F.40 from the French escadrille MF 36, who piloted the Sgt Barthes, a function of the shooter performed the mechanic Baudoin. The French just fought with one Aviatikem, which the Belgians had driven the German side of the trenches. The French, meanwhile, attacked a pair of LVG and together with the Belgians they one managed to shoot. Victory went to the account of the belgian crew.

Sometimes it is possible to find the information that the heavily wounded pilot of the downed machine from Caste 2 was Oblt. Franz Walz, the future holder of the order of Pour le Merite. However, Walzova unit was at the beginning of July transferred to the sommský stretch of the front, where she fought against the British. It seems therefore very unlikely.

The belgians apparently shot down the machine belonging to the Marine Feld Flieger Abteilung 2, wherein the crew of the pilot Vizeflugmeister Arnold Dohmen and Leutnant der Reserve Albert Siebert was killed. This version also supports the fact that German airmen were buried in Vladslo, which lies from the Houthulst (then reported the location of the kill) in less than 10 km.

28. July Jacquet with Robin attacked and drove the German LVG from the belgian lines at Langemarcku, then attacked with steel arrows on a German balloon and the afternoon ended in-depth attack on the German aerodrome at Ghistelles.

After his third victory was the crew cited in the orders of the French army: "(the Order of 5. August 1916) Jacquet, the captain, pilot officer 1. the belgian squadron; Robin, lieutenant, officer, observer 1. the belgian squadron: belgian airmen of great caliber, who for eighteen months worked in close cooperation with the French eskadrami. His courage succeeded in airplanes, which are not specialised in the prosecution of, and demonstrated against the enemy undoubted superiority. Fought in many battles, in which the recently shot down three German planes."

In the summer of 1916 also credits Jacquet – Robin gets a new machine. This is a plane type Farman – Nélis. Lieutenant Georges Nélis, who served in the belgian unit for the maintenance and repair of aviation equipment, during the year 1916 together with an engineer Demontym worked to improve the inferior performance of existing Farmanů F.40. They created together a total of six different prototypes, designated as GN 1 to GN 6. Adjustments include the experiments with the shape of the nacelles, and wings, deployment of the chillers, using different types of fuel units, etc.

Jacquet and Robin participated in the testing of the first machines with the designation of GN 1 and probably just on it on 8. September 1916 undecided compete with the German machine above Bixschoote. Shortly after this duel, however, were seriously hit by anti-aircraft artillery and had to make an emergency landing on their own side of the trenches, the machine was, however, the crash destroyed.

The crew, however, quickly got to testing the prototype of GN 2, which from the end of September into the beginning of next year carry out a series of sorties.

In December of 1916, Jacquet was promoted - was appointed captain and took command of le Escadrille de Chasse. Unfortunately, however, it happened in very unfortunate circumstances. Current commander captain Demanet got into an argument with Jacquetovým observer Robin, during which he lost control and on one of the Bros. impudence answered a slap, after which, according to witnesses, 23-year-old Robin "sat on my ass". Robin filed an official complaint and Capt. Demanet, an experienced commander, and a pre-war pilot, holder of the belgian aviation decree no 60 of 1912, he was relieved of command and reassigned to his original weapon, the artillery. The whole story could be declared a farce, if it weren't for the tragic end. Just one day before the end of the war, 10. 11. 1918, Capitaine Demanet fell on the position of your battery in Landuyt fatally hit by shrapnel artillery shell...

Jacquet and Robin together one last time scored 1. February, 1917, when on my GN 2 during his second patrol that day, stumbled upon a brown two-seater Rumpler at a height of 4000 meters and at 15:15 hrs they sent him to the ground near Lombardszijde.

Information for the year 1917 are about Robin very scanty. For example, we know that the crew in the composition of Henri Crombez - Louis Robin kicked off at dawn 4. may 1917 and has taken a bold flight over Brussels, where she lost to the belgian flag.

The end of the year 1917 is Robin and I joined pilot school, and kavlifikoval as a fighter pilot. He was posted to the 10. squadron, where he flew on the machines SPAD XIII.

The end of the war, however, managed to fly 18 sorties, during which he took part in 11 air battles.

His only success was dvousedlovka forced to land near Zelzate in Holland 3. November, 1918, however, this victory remained unconfirmed.

Reached 4 confirmed and 8 unconfirmed victories, the only confirmed kill him escaped the longed-for status of the esa...

After the war he retired from the army and in 1921 together with Jacquetem opened a flight school.

When in may 1940 the Germans again invaded Belgium, Robin once again stood to her defense, this time as commander of a unit of armored cars. Unfortunately, the belgian resistance this time collapsed quickly, Robin fell into captivity, and he returned home after the war.

The army finally left in the rank of colonel in reserve in June 1946.

Died 9. August 1976 in Etterbeeku.

Table of kills:

Source:
Jon Guttman: Pusher Aces of World Ear 1, Osprey Publishing, Oxford 2009, ISBN 978 1 84603 417 6
gallica.bnf.fr

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