Constant Soulier
Constant Frédéric Soulier (5 September 1897 – 2 July 1933) was a French World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed aerial victories and nine unconfirmed. Born in Paris, he was a student who hoped to attend the École Polytechnique when the war began but was too young and in poor health. He joined the artillery in March 1915, then transferred to aviation. He trained in Pau in March 1916 and earned his pilot’s brevet in May 1916. In June 1916 he was posted to Escadrille 26 under Commandant Brocard.
His first victory came on 24 August 1916 when he shot down a German observation balloon. After a lengthy hospital stay in January 1917, he returned to duty in March and added two more victories in May. On 27 May 1917 he became the youngest ace in the French service, taking the record from Paul Sauvage, who had been killed. He returned to hospital at the end of June 1917 and remained there until December, with illness ending his combat duty.
Soulier was then sent to the United States to demonstrate combat flying to American pilots, leaving a favorable impression. He accumulated about 430 flying hours and participated in roughly 60 dogfights. Later in life he struggled with PTSD and developed addiction to cocaine and alcohol. He died on 2 July 1933 in Maisons-Laffitte at age 35.
His awards included the Médaille Militaire, the Croix de Guerre with six palmes and an étoile de vermeil, and the Romanian Croix de Virtute Militaire.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 12:00 (CET).