Émile Allegret facts for kids

Émile Allegret (born April 24, 1907 – died November 22, 1990) was a brave French soldier. He was also a key member of the French Resistance during World War II.

Émile Allegret's Early Life and War Service

Émile Allegret finished high school and then joined the French Air Force in 1926. He served for five years. He became a non-commissioned officer, which is a military leader who is not an officer.

He later studied at the French Civil Aviation University. There, he became an engineer and a test pilot. A test pilot flies new or repaired aircraft to make sure they work correctly.

Joining the French Resistance

When World War II started in September 1939, Émile Allegret was a flight instructor. He heard a famous radio message called the Appeal of 18 June. This message encouraged French people to keep fighting the Germans.

After France was defeated, Émile Allegret refused to fly for the German air force. He quickly joined the French Resistance. The Resistance was a secret group of French people fighting against the German occupation.

He had to hide his real identity to stay safe. He became a secret agent for a Resistance group called Organisation civile et militaire. He gathered important information about German defenses along the Atlantic coast. He even helped prevent weapons from falling into enemy hands in Royan.

Escape and Joining the Free French Forces

The German secret police, called the Gestapo, started looking for him. Émile Allegret had to leave France to avoid being caught. On December 24, 1942, he bravely crossed the Pyrenees mountains into Spain.

From Spain, he traveled to Gibraltar and then to London. On February 13, 1943, he officially joined the Free French Forces. These were French soldiers who continued to fight alongside the Allies.

Flying Missions and D-Day

On March 5, 1943, Émile Allegret joined a special bombing group called "Lorraine." He flew many dangerous missions against German anti-aircraft defenses. These were guns that shot down enemy planes.

In January 1944, he became the commander of the "Metz" squadron. He led many bombing operations. He also took part in a very important mission on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day.

D-Day was when Allied forces landed in Normandy to free France. Émile Allegret's squadron helped protect the landing troops by creating a smoke screen. This hid the soldiers from enemy view.

He was seriously injured in January 1945. By the end of the war, he was a Captain. He had flown 55 bombing missions with his group.

After the War

After the war, Émile Allegret continued his career in aviation. He became an engineer for air navigation. This involves planning and guiding aircraft safely.

He worked for the civil aviation department. He even became the head of the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. His last job was assistant head at the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport before he retired in May 1968.

Émile Allegret passed away on November 22, 1990, at the age of 83.

Honours and Awards

Émile Allegret received many important awards for his bravery and service.

• Légion d'honneur: This is France's highest award for military and civil achievements.
• Companion of the Liberation: A very special award given to those who fought bravely to free France during World War II.
• Croix de guerre 1939–1945: A French military award for bravery in combat.
• Médaille de la Résistance: Awarded to members of the French Resistance.
• Distinguished Flying Cross: An award from the United States for heroism or extraordinary achievement while flying.