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{{short description|20th-century French aviator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{More footnotes|date=July 2011}}
{{More footnotes|date=July 2011}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = François Coli
|name = François Coli
|image = François Coli.PNG
|image = François Coli.PNG
|caption = Francois Coli
|caption = François Coli
|birth_date = June 5, 1881
|birth_date = 5 June 1881
|birth_place =
|birth_place = [[Marseille]], France
|disappeared_date = {{death date and age|1927|5|8|1881|6|5|df=y}}
|death_date = On or after May 8, 1927
|disappeared_place = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|death_place =
|other_names =
|known_for = Flights across [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]], and attempt at [[Transatlantic flight]]
|known_for = Flights across [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]], and attempt at [[Transatlantic flight]]
|occupation =
|occupation =
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}}
}}


'''François Coli''' (June 5, 1881 - [[Declared death in absentia|presumably]] on or after May 8, 1927) was a [[French people|French]] [[Aviator|pilot]] and [[navigator]] best known as the one-eyed flying partner of [[Charles Nungesser]] in their doomed attempt to fly the Atlantic Ocean on the aircraft known as ''[[The White Bird]]''.
'''François Coli''' (5 June 1881 – [[Declared death in absentia|presumably]] on or after 8 May 1927) was a [[French people|French]] [[Aviator|pilot]] and [[navigator]] best known as the flying partner of [[Charles Nungesser]] in their fatal attempt to achieve the first [[transatlantic flight]].


==Early life and World War I==
==Early life and World War I==
Born in [[Marseilles]] of a [[Corsican people|Corsican]] seafaring family, Coli became a merchant captain, married, and produced three daughters. Upon outbreak of [[World War I]] he offered his services to the [[French Navy]]. Reportedly disillusioned because no warships needed a captain, he entered the army as a private. Fortunately, his age and experience gained him a commission in 1915 and that summer he was promoted to captain. Suffering multiple wounds, he was declared unfit for infantry service and transferred to the French Air Service, gaining his pilot’s brevet in March 1916. Late that year he joined [[Escadrille]] N.62 and rose to command the squadron in February 1917.
Born in [[Marseilles]] of a [[Corsican people|Corsican]] seafaring family, Coli became a merchant captain, married, and produced three daughters. Upon outbreak of [[World War I]] he offered his services to the [[French Navy]]. Reportedly disillusioned because no warships needed a captain, he entered the army as a private. His age and experience gained him a commission in 1915 and that summer he was promoted to captain. Suffering multiple wounds, he was declared unfit for infantry service and transferred to the French Air Service, gaining his pilot's brevet in March 1916. Late that year he joined [[Escadrille]] N.62 and rose to command the squadron in February 1917.


Captain Coli remained as chief of the Escadrille des Coqs even after losing an eye in a crash in March 1918. He departed the Roosters that August with a reputation as an exceptional navigator and leader.
Captain Coli remained as chief of the Escadrille des Coqs even after losing an eye in a crash in March 1918. He departed the Roosters that August with a reputation as an exceptional navigator and leader.
Line 24: Line 24:
==Post-war career==
==Post-war career==
[[File:Carte postale-Nungesser et Coli-1927.jpg|thumb|''L'Oiseau Blanc'']]
[[File:Carte postale-Nungesser et Coli-1927.jpg|thumb|''L'Oiseau Blanc'']]
After the war Coli began a series of record-setting distance flights. On January 26, 1919, he achieved the first double crossing of the Mediterranean with Lieutenant [[Henri Roget]]. The flight established the over-water distance record of 735 kilometers (457 statute miles) in five hours.
After the war Coli began a series of record-setting distance flights. On 26 January 1919 he achieved the first double crossing of the Mediterranean with Lieutenant Henri Roget. The flight established the over-water distance record of 735 kilometers (457 statute miles) in five hours.


On May 24, again with Roget, Coli set a long-distance record from Paris to [[Port Lyautey]], [[Morocco]], a distance of {{convert|2,200|km|mi|sp=us}}. He was injured in the crash at the end of the flight.
On 24 May, again with Roget, Coli set a long-distance record from Paris to [[Port Lyautey]], [[Morocco]], a distance of {{convert|2200|km|mi|sp=us}}. He was injured in the crash at the end of the flight.


The following year, 1920, with Joseph Sadi-Lecointe (in fr.wikipedia.com), Coli made further long-distance flights around the Mediterranean.
The following year, 1920, with [[Joseph Sadi-Lecointe]], Coli made further long-distance flights around the Mediterranean.


In 1923 Coli began planning a nonstop transatlantic flight with wartime comrade [[Paul Tarascon]], a leading [[ace]]. In 1925 they became interested in the [[Orteig prize]] of $25,000 for the first flight between Paris and New York. Late in 1926 an accident destroyed their [[Potez 25]] biplane and Tarascon was badly burned. A new aircraft was sought, and Tarascon relinquished his place as pilot to Charles Nungesser.
In 1923 Coli began planning a nonstop transatlantic flight with wartime comrade [[Paul Tarascon]], a leading [[flying ace]]. In 1925 they became interested in the [[Orteig prize]] of $25,000 for the first flight between Paris and New York. Late in 1926 an accident destroyed their [[Potez 25]] biplane and Tarascon was badly burned. A new aircraft was sought, and Tarascon relinquished his place as pilot to Charles Nungesser. They took off from Paris on 8 May 1927 in the biplane ''[[L'Oiseau Blanc]]'', but disappeared en route.


In 1928, the Ontario Surveyor General named a number of lakes in the northwest of the province to honour aviators who had perished during 1927, mainly in attempting oceanic flights.<ref name=Lakes>{{cite web|last=Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources|first=|coauthors=|url=http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/16000/263650.pdf |title=St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy |year=2007 |publisher= |location=Toronto, ON |accessdate=2011-07-19}} p 14.</ref><ref name=Lakes2>{{cite news | title = Lost Aviators: New Lakes Named | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32084097 | agency = | newspaper = The West Australian | publisher = | location = Perth, [[Western Australia|WA]] | date = 16 January 1928 | page = 13 | accessdate = 2011-07-19 }}</ref> Amongst these are Coli Lake ({{Coord|51.32|N|93.59|W}}) and Nungesser Lake ({{Coord|51.49|N|93.52|W}}).
In 1928, the Ontario Surveyor General named a number of lakes in the northwest of the province to honour aviators who had perished during 1927, mainly in attempting oceanic flights.<ref name=Lakes>{{cite web |author=Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources |date=2007 |title=St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy |publisher= |location=Toronto, ON |url=http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/16000/263650.pdf |accessdate=19 July 2011 |archive-date=27 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927044129/http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/16000/263650.pdf |url-status=dead }} p 14.</ref><ref name=Lakes2>{{cite news |date=16 January 1928 |title=Lost Aviators: New Lakes Named |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth, [[Western Australia|WA]] |page=13 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32084097 |accessdate=19 July 2011}}</ref> Amongst these are Coli Lake ({{Coord|51.32|N|93.59|W}}) and Nungesser Lake ({{Coord|51.49|N|93.52|W}}).


For details of other memorials, see [[The White Bird#Legacy|The White Bird § Legacy]].
For details of other memorials, see [[L'Oiseau Blanc#Legacy|L'Oiseau Blanc Legacy]].


==References==
==See also==
*[[Hanriot HD.1]]
*[[List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea]]


==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External sources==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*Escadrille 62. http://albindenis.free.fr/dossiers/page2.html
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110720220248/http://albindenis.free.fr/dossiers/page2.html Escadrille 62]
*International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery. http://www.tighar.org/TTracks/1987Vol_3/0301.pdf
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081012082556/http://www.tighar.org/TTracks/1987Vol_3/0301.pdf ''Tighar Tracks'' (Spring 1987), Volume 3, Number 1], published by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3901/is_199907/ai_n8863766 "Mystery of the White Bird"]
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3901/is_199907/ai_n8863766 "Mystery of the White Bird"]
*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=coli&GSfn=francois&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=21580&df=all& cenotaph;findagrave memorial]
*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=coli&GSfn=francois&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=21580&df=all& cenotaph;findagrave memorial]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Coli, Francois
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = French aviator
| DATE OF BIRTH = June 5, 1881
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = May 8, 1927
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coli, Francois}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coli, Francois}}
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1920s missing person cases]]
[[Category:1927 deaths]]
[[Category:1927 deaths]]
[[Category:French aviators]]
[[Category:French people of Corsican descent]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents]]
[[Category:Flight navigators]]
[[Category:French aviation record holders]]
[[Category:French people with disabilities]]
[[Category:French people with disabilities]]
[[Category:French World War I pilots]]
[[Category:Missing aviators]]
[[Category:Missing aviators]]
[[Category:People from Marseille]]
[[Category:People from Marseille]]
[[Category:People lost at sea]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1927]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in international waters]]
[[Category:Eyepatch wearers]]

Latest revision as of 17:17, 8 May 2024

François Coli
François Coli
Born5 June 1881
Marseille, France
Disappeared8 May 1927(1927-05-08) (aged 45)
Atlantic Ocean
NationalityFrench
Known forFlights across Mediterranean, and attempt at Transatlantic flight

François Coli (5 June 1881 – presumably on or after 8 May 1927) was a French pilot and navigator best known as the flying partner of Charles Nungesser in their fatal attempt to achieve the first transatlantic flight.

Early life and World War I

[edit]

Born in Marseilles of a Corsican seafaring family, Coli became a merchant captain, married, and produced three daughters. Upon outbreak of World War I he offered his services to the French Navy. Reportedly disillusioned because no warships needed a captain, he entered the army as a private. His age and experience gained him a commission in 1915 and that summer he was promoted to captain. Suffering multiple wounds, he was declared unfit for infantry service and transferred to the French Air Service, gaining his pilot's brevet in March 1916. Late that year he joined Escadrille N.62 and rose to command the squadron in February 1917.

Captain Coli remained as chief of the Escadrille des Coqs even after losing an eye in a crash in March 1918. He departed the Roosters that August with a reputation as an exceptional navigator and leader.

Post-war career

[edit]
L'Oiseau Blanc

After the war Coli began a series of record-setting distance flights. On 26 January 1919 he achieved the first double crossing of the Mediterranean with Lieutenant Henri Roget. The flight established the over-water distance record of 735 kilometers (457 statute miles) in five hours.

On 24 May, again with Roget, Coli set a long-distance record from Paris to Port Lyautey, Morocco, a distance of 2,200 kilometers (1,400 mi). He was injured in the crash at the end of the flight.

The following year, 1920, with Joseph Sadi-Lecointe, Coli made further long-distance flights around the Mediterranean.

In 1923 Coli began planning a nonstop transatlantic flight with wartime comrade Paul Tarascon, a leading flying ace. In 1925 they became interested in the Orteig prize of $25,000 for the first flight between Paris and New York. Late in 1926 an accident destroyed their Potez 25 biplane and Tarascon was badly burned. A new aircraft was sought, and Tarascon relinquished his place as pilot to Charles Nungesser. They took off from Paris on 8 May 1927 in the biplane L'Oiseau Blanc, but disappeared en route.

In 1928, the Ontario Surveyor General named a number of lakes in the northwest of the province to honour aviators who had perished during 1927, mainly in attempting oceanic flights.[1][2] Amongst these are Coli Lake (51°19′N 93°35′W / 51.32°N 93.59°W / 51.32; -93.59) and Nungesser Lake (51°29′N 93°31′W / 51.49°N 93.52°W / 51.49; -93.52).

For details of other memorials, see L'Oiseau Blanc Legacy.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (2007). "St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy" (PDF). Toronto, ON. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2011. p 14.
  2. ^ "Lost Aviators: New Lakes Named". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 16 January 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
[edit]
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