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Suzanne Jannin, a brave French pilot and Resistance fighter.

Suzanne Henriette Jannin (1912–1982) was an amazing French woman who was a dentist, a brave fighter in the Second World War, and an air force pilot during the Indochina War. After she earned her military pilot's license in 1948, she stopped being a dentist to focus completely on flying. From 1951, she flew important French Air Force missions in the Far East, which is a long way from France. She returned home in 1954. Later, in 1957, she started her dentistry work again, opening a practice in Paris.

Suzanne's Early Life and Dreams

Suzanne Henriette Jannin was born in Belleville-sur-Meuse, France, on July 28, 1912. She studied dentistry in Nancy and became a qualified dentist in 1939. In May 1939, she also started learning to fly an airplane at Tomblaine. She learned on a type of plane called a Potez 43.

Fighting for Freedom in World War II

During the Second World War, when Germany occupied France, Suzanne became a very active member of the French Resistance. This was a secret group of people who fought against the German army.

  • As part of the Resistance in the Meuse area, she helped hide British and American paratroopers.
  • She would guide these soldiers safely from Verdun all the way to the border with Switzerland.
  • Suzanne also used her skills to help people as a doctor.
  • She helped share important news and moved secret documents, weapons, and ammunition.

On September 1, 1944, Suzanne became a lieutenant in the army. She joined the Women's Auxiliary Administration Corps. Instead of doing office work, she found a special 4x4 vehicle. She used this vehicle to bring French prisoners of war back home from Germany. From May 6 to August 15, 1945, she bravely led four groups of 38 vehicles. She helped bring back a total of 650 prisoners to France!

Flying High: Aviation and the Air Force

Suzanne loved flying so much that she became the president of the Verdun Air Club. She decided to stop working as a dentist in Verdun and moved to Paris. There, she could spend all her time on aviation. In 1948, she earned her military pilot's license. She then got more special training at Saint-Yan and Challes-les-Eaux.

In April 1951, Suzanne joined the Far Eastern Women's Auxiliary Administration Corps. She went to Tonkin, which was part of French Indochina at the time, as a dental captain. In 1952, a general named Lionel-Max Chassin encouraged her to join the Air Force as a pilot. To do this, she had to give up her rank as an officer and become a corporal.

  • On April 6, 1953, she joined the 52nd squadron at Tan-Son-Nhut, near Saigon.
  • She flew planes called Morane Criquets.
  • Suzanne was the second woman ever to become a pilot in the French Air Force.
  • She was also the very first woman pilot in Indochina!

Suzanne flew day and night. She did many different kinds of missions, including looking for things from the sky, guiding others, and helping with rescues. She completed 290 flights, and 86 of these were dangerous war missions. Later, she was sent to Laos. For a short time, she stopped flying to work as a dentist for the soldiers there. Suzanne once said, "I always tried to help my country, to take on responsibility and that's why I went to Indochina."

Later Life and Remembering Suzanne

After General Chassin left, it became harder for Suzanne to continue her flying missions. She returned to France in 1954. She continued to work as a dentist for the Air Force until 1957. She was stationed first in Saclay and then in Châtillon-sous-Bagneux. After that, she opened her own dental practice again in Paris. On April 27, 1961, she married Gustave Delvoye in Paris.

Suzanne Jannin passed away in 1982. Her funeral was held on July 10, 1982, in Mons-en-Barœul, which is a town near Lille.

In September 2019, a special plaque was put up in memory of Suzanne Jannin in her hometown of Belleville-sur-Meuse. The plaque honored her as "Suzanne Jannin Pilote en Indochine" (Suzanne Jannin Pilot in Indochina). The mayor also officially named the square where the plaque stands "Square Suzanne Jannin."

Awards and Honors

Suzanne Jannin received many important awards for her bravery and service:

Images for kids

  • S jannin

    Highly decorated Suzanne Jannin

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