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Auction: 8023 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 430

A Large and Impressive Gold Commemorative Medallion Posthumously Awarded to Lieutenant E. Stribick, Escadrille HF 19, for the Destruction of an Enemy Aircraft 12.3.1916; Stribick is Noted, Historically, as the First Allied Airman to Shoot Down an Enemy Aircraft by Machine-Gun Fire France, large gold medallion, by P.A. Morlan, 68mm, 220 grams, the obverse featuring Gallia with shield and spear leading a Nieuport ´Bébé´ biplane over the city of Rheims, Cathedral on left, the reverse featuring ´Pro Patria´ over winged propeller inscribed ´Au S/Lieutenant E. Stribick, 1 Avion Ennemi Abattu Le 12 Mars 1916´, gold marks to edge, minor test cut on reverse rim, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare in gold, in original red leather gold embossed case of issue, with its contemporary wooden Postal box stamped and addressed to the recipient´s brother ´Monsieur Stribick, 35 Rue de Roanne, St Etienne (Loire)´, together with a number of interesting contemporary photographs and later copies, many of them of Stribick with his Henri Farman aircraft, including one believed to show the wreckage and two bodies of his first victory. Estimate £ 4,500-5,500 Lieutenant Emile Stribick, born St Étienne 20.5.1891; called up for National Service, 1911; joined the 16eme Regt Artillerie 10.10.1912; transferred to 2e Groupe Aeronautique, January 1913 and later 2e Groupe d´´Aviation January 1914; joined Escadrille HF [Henri Farman] 28 as a Corporal, September 1914 On 28th October 1914, Corporal Stribick, accompanied by a passenger in a Henri Farman, attacked a German photographic two-seater which was calmly photographing French positions. Stribick intercepted the intruder, and, resting a Hotchkis machine-gun on the side of the cockpit, despatched the enemy two-seater with a short burst. Stribick landed alongside the wreckage of his opponent to the delight of the troops on the ground. This was the first occasion on which an enemy aircraft had been shot down by a machine-gun in aerial combat. For this historic exploit, which heralded a new dawn for aerial combat, both Stribick and his companion were awarded the Médaille Militaire 25.10.1914. Stribick was promoted to Sergeant 3.11.1914 and in January 1915 he transferred to Escadrille HF 19;Adjutant in April 1915; awarded the Croix de Guerre June 1915, and the Légion d´´Honneur March 1916, the latter award in recognition shooting down an enemy aircraft 12th March. This victory, his second, is commemorated by the large gold medallion. Promoted to Sous-Lieutenant the same month, he was attached to the Russian Air Force from April 1916 to November 1917. Lieutenant Stribick was tragically killed in an accident near Trappes railway station, 26.3.1918.

Sold for
£3,800