Date of birth:

June 8th, 1914 (Lille, France)

Date of death:

November 26th, 1942 (over the Atlantic Ocean)

Nationality:

French (1870-present, Republic)

A trainee as a young professor of philosophy, he was mobilized in 1939 in the Infantry. He moved to the Air Force to become an observer by plane first at Versailles then at the Toulouse-Francazals base. He was appointed aspirant on April 1, 1940.

René Casparius hears the appeal of June 18 and immediately decides to leave the country to continue the fight.

On June 22, 1940, he took off, bound for Great Britain, aboard a Caudron Goéland piloted by Sergeant Didier Béguin with two fellow aspirants, Ricard-Cordingley and Schloesing, and Lieutenant Roques.

He joined the Free French Forces on June 24, 1940.

Sent to the Royal Air Force base-depot in Saint Athan then in Odiham, he served for some time as an English teacher for young French students.

Volunteer to become a pilot, he trained in various RAF schools before being assigned in February 1942 to the 235 Squadron of the RAF (Costal Command) on Bristol Beaufighter.

Promoted lieutenant in March 1942, he did not hesitate, on September 24, 1942 with another crew, to attack four Junkers 88 in the open ocean; he shoots one down while he himself is being pursued.

Captain in October 1942 and squadron leader, René Casparius took part in numerous missions.

On November 26, 1942, he took part in a reconnaissance flight to Brest to locate submarines and was reported missing, along with his British navigator, Flight Sergeant Davies, after attacking a submarine.

René Casparius holds three approved aerial victories, one of which is participation, and one damaged aircraft.

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• - René CASPARIUS | L'Ordre de la Libération et son Musée