René Simon (aviator)

René Simon (8 December 1885 – 21 April 1947) was a French aviator.^[1]

René Simon
René Simon, ca 1911
Born	8 December 1885 Paris, France
Died	21 April 1947 (1947-04-22) (aged 61)
Other names	"Flying Fool"
Occupation	aviator

Biography

He was born in Paris and earned French license #177 from the Aero Club De France. He toured the United States in 1911–12 with the Moisant International Aviators. He became known for daring tactics and was called the Flying-Fool by the public.^[2] What has been termed "the first airplane rescue at sea by another airplane" was made on 14 August 1911.^[3] Simon had been flying over Lake Michigan in a monoplane when his plane accidentally went into the water but did not sink. Pilot Hugh Robinson in a Curtiss hydroplane spotted him and offered to fly him back to shore, but Simon, who was comfortable and smoking a cigarette,^[4] preferred to wait for a boat to come and tow both him and his plane back to dry land.^[5]

In February 1911 the Mexican government engaged Simon to reconnoiter rebel positions near Juarez, Mexico.^[6][7] During World War I he commanded a squadron that taught acrobatic tactics to fighter pilots. Simon was married by the time of World War I and had a commission as a Capitaine (Captain). He and his wife often dined with high-ranking military officials.

René Simon died in Cannes on 21 April 1947.^[8]

See also

• List of pilots awarded an Aviator's Certificate by the Aéro-Club de France in 1910.