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Chief Warrant Officer Raymond AUTIER

Biography

Raymond AUTIER was born on February 08, 1907 in Paris in the 4th Arrondissement.

He was reported missing during an aerial combat on May 15, 1940. He crashed in the woods of Fays, near Monthermé in the Ardennes. His body is buried in the Saint-Anne de Monthermé cemetery.

Some feats of arm

On May 15th, 1940, a light Triple Patrol of the 3rd Squadron (6 pilots), took off from Couvron to protect a group of Blenheim in charge of destroying the temporary bridge of Monthermé. On the way, two pilots are forced to turn around due to mechanical problems. Arrived on the goal, the patrol is capped by forty Messerchmitt BF109 and BF110. A group of German fighters, taking advantage of its altitude, falls on the French pilots. Commander VENIEL manages to shoot down a BF109, but he is severely hit with a drifting plan pulled off. He managed to escape, not without being pursued for nearly 10kms by two attackers. The rest of the Patrol is overwhelmed by the number, and 3 pilots are immediately aboard. Lieutenant BRUN, will manage to land in Campaign, in spite of an important oil leak. Adjutant MUNIER crashes into the Bois de Woieries, north of Monthermée. The aircraft and the pilot's body will be found one year later. Chief Warrant Officer AUTIER suffered the same fate and his plane crashed into Bois du Fays where he caught fire instantly. It will not be found again until one year later.