He played as a winger or center with US Dax at first (whose stadium is currently named after him, and where a statue was erected in his honour, in 1924) then for Stade Bordelais and finally Racing Club de France during World War 1.

[1] In late 1915, he was assigned as a flight instructor at Buc but arranged to join a combat unit as a Caporal in September 1916.

His Nieuport's paint scheme featured a rather flamboyant serpentine dragon writhing the length of a white fuselage.

He burned his last four balloons in three days of September,[1] but was killed by defending German fighters on the 16th, with Georg von Hantelmann receiving credit.

"[1] "Pilot of remarkable bravery whose marvelous physical qualities are put to use by his most arduous spirit and fights at great heights.

Magnificent officer with an admirable spirit of self-sacrifice, facing each day with the same smiling desire for new exploits, surpassing then succeeding.

He excels in all branches of aviation; reconnaissance, photography in single-seaters, bombardments at low altitudes, attacks on ground troops, and is classed among the best pursuit pilots.