In Guynemer the technician and the marksman equaled and perhaps surpassed the pilot.  Captain Galliot, who is a specialist, has called him “the thinker-fighter,” thereby emphasizing that his excellence as a gunner arose from meditation and preparation.  The same officer adds that “accuracy was Guynemer’s characteristic; he never shot at random as others occasionally do, but always took long and careful aim.  Perfect weapons and perfect mastery of them were dogmas with him.  His marksmanship, the result of perseverance and intelligence, multiplied tenfold the capacity of his machine-gun, and accounts for his overwhelming superiority."[31]

[Footnote 31:  Guerre aerienne, October 18, 1917.]

But when you have realized the technical superiority of our Guynemer, you will have yet to learn one thing, one great thing, the essential thing.  You have heard that Guynemer’s frame was not robust; that he was delicate, and the military boards refused him several times as unfit.  Yet no aviator ever showed more endurance than he did, even when developments made long cruising necessary in altitudes of 6000 or 7000 meters.  There have been pilots as quickwitted and gunners as accurate as Guynemer, but there has never been anybody who equaled him in the flashlike rapidity of his attack, or for doggedness in keeping up a fight.  We must conclude that he had a special gift, and this gift—­his own genius—­must be ultimately reduced to his decision, that is, his will-power.  His will, to the very end, was far above his physical strength.  There are two great dates in his short life:  November 21, 1914, when he joined the army, and September 11, 1917, when he left camp for his last flight.  Neither a passion for aviation nor thirst for glory had any part in his action on those two dates.  Will-power in itself is sometimes dangerous, enviable though it be, and must be wisely directed.  Now, Guynemer regulated his will by one great object, which was to serve, to serve his country, even unto death.

Finally, do not place Guynemer apart from his comrades:  even in his grave, even in the region where there is no grave, he would resent it.  I hope you will learn by heart the names of the French aces, at any rate those names which I am going to give you, whatever may become of those who bear them:[32]

sous-lieutenant Nungesser 30 airplanes brought down Captain Heurtaux 21 " " Lieutenant Deullin 17 " " Lieutenant Pinsard 16 " " sous-lieutenant Madon 16 " " sous-lieutenant Chaput 12 " " Adjutant Jailler 12 " " sous-lieutenant Ortoli 11 " " sous-lieutenant Tarascon 11 " " Chief Adjutant Fonck 11 " " sous-lieutenant Lufbery 10 " "

[Footnote 32:  List made September 11, 1917.]