Marcel Bloch (aviator)

For the French aviation executive who began his life as Marcel Bloch, see Marcel Dassault

Sous Lieutenant Marcel Robert Marcel Bloch was a World War I flying ace who fought on both Eastern and Western Fronts. He was credited with five aerial victories, all scored against German observation balloons.

Bloch was originally assigned to fly a Nieuport for Escadrille 3 but transferred to Escadrille 62 on 25 May 1916. He became a balloon buster ace, destroying five German observation balloons between 26 June and 1 October 1916. In the process of destroying number three, on 3 July 1916, he was seriously wounded twice. He downed his last two on 30 September and 1 October.

In 1917, Bloch was transferred from combat duty to a military mission. On 23 March, he was transferred to the Russian Front. He sustained serious injuries on 8 May 1917, when he suffered a flying accident. After many months in hospital, he was assigned to the French Mission to the United States on 10 September 1918. On 1 March 1919, he returned to France.