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Roland de la PoypeFrench pilot, viscount, Hero of the Soviet Union (1944).
Date of Birth: 28.07.1920
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Roland de la Poype
Roland de la Poype was a French aviator, viscount, and Hero of the Soviet Union (1944). He was born on July 28, 1920, in the city of Prado, France, into a family of hereditary aristocrats. He joined the French Air Force on August 15, 1939. After the surrender of France, he moved to Great Britain where he continued to fight against the German invaders, engaging in aerial combat over French West Africa. In August 1942, he volunteered to join the "Normandie" squadron and traveled through Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Syria, and Iran before arriving in the Soviet Union on November 28, 1942.
Service in Normandie-Niémen Squadron
As a senior lieutenant in the Normandie-Niémen squadron, Roland de la Poype completed 125 combat missions and achieved 18 aerial victories. On November 27, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal, for his courage, heroism, and military prowess displayed in the battles against the German fascist occupiers.
Post-War Career and Legacy
After the war, Roland de la Poype continued his service in the French Air Force and was demobilized in 1947. He then pursued a career in business and used the funds he received to establish the Marineland marine park in Antibes, on the French Riviera. He resided in France and passed away on October 23, 2012, in Saint-Tropez at the age of 93. He was honored with several decorations, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor (January 30, 2008), Companion of the Liberation (December 29, 1944), and the Military Cross 1939-1945 (12 distinctions). In addition to being a Hero of the Soviet Union and receiving the Order of Lenin, he was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner, Order of the Patriotic War 1st class, and the Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945".
