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Brisdoux Galloni d'Istria, Pierre

Date of birth:
October 20th, 1914 (Algiers, Algeria)
Date of death:
December 8th, 1944 (Hoevolaken/Utrecht, Holland)
Buried on:
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
Nationality:
French (1870-present, Republic)

Biography

Pierre Brisdoux Galloni d'Istria was a French aviator of the Second World War, Companion of the Liberation.

A native of Algiers, Pierre Brisdoux Galloni d'Istria, doctor of law, holder of a civilian pilot's license, reserve officer of the Air Force, joined the air force in 1939. Second lieutenant in particular on the Air Base 122 in Chartres-Champhol in March 1940, at the Fighter Instruction Center, he tried to cross to England on June 18, 1940.

After this first failure, he went to Algeria and tried to reach Cameroon. Recaptured, he fled again and reached Chad by a journey of 12,000 km through the desert.

Welcomed by General de Gaulle in person, he enlisted in the Free French Air Forces and in 1941 joined the "Alsace" fighter group, with which he made the campaigns in Syria and Libya in 1942. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant in March 1942.

In 1943, he joined Great Britain and the "Île-de-France" fighter group (No. 340 "free french" Squadron), with which he participated in the Normandy landing. In August 1944, he was assigned to No. 198 "Killer Squadron", under the orders of Commander Yves Ezanno.

He was shot down on December 8, 1944 during an attack on the headquarters of the Todt organization near Utrecht.

His name appears on the war memorial in the Kapelle military cemetery.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Compagnon
Awarded on:
May 28th, 1945
posthumously awarded
l' Ordre de la Libération
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
4 citations
Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
with rosette
Médaille de la Résistance Française
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
with clasp " Libye "
Médaille Coloniale

Sources

Photo