Colonel Maurice Roch Gond (31 May 1884 – 11 May 1964) was a World War I flying ace who played a much more important role in his nation's affairs than six aerial victories might suggest.

After he completed advanced training, he was appointed to the French Military Mission to the Kingdom of Romania after that nation's entry into World War I on 27 August 1916.

During the year he served in Romania, Gond was an inspirational, courageous, and diplomatic leader of the Escadrille Franco-Roumaine N3 or Escadrila N.3 in Romanian.

Maurice remained in the French Air Force, serving in ever more responsible posts until his retirement in 1943 with 41 years of service.

Romanian Captain Cholet, one of those greeted, wrote, "Gond was short, and he wasn't young, but he had such piercing eyes!

"[5] Gond was assigned to Escadrila N3 of the 2nd Aeronautical Group, based at Pipera for defense of nearby Bucharest.

[6] The improvised bridge was the prelude to a successful enemy offensive that pushed the Romanians back behind the Siret River.

The following day, Romanian pilot, Nicolae Capșa, moved up from command of the escadrila to head up the Third Aeronautical Group.

Gond succeeded to the squadron's command, though ten days later, Romanian Captain Ștefan Protopopescu was appointed as co-commander.

[8] On 6 February 1917, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia decorated three members of the squadron and congratulated Gond on his unit's performance.

There was a shortage of ammunition for the rest, especially tracer and incendiary bullets, and gun jams in combat were an ongoing problem.

However, the unit carried on, with Gond escorting a Russian general's reconnaissance flight over his front in late March.

On 13 April 1917, Gond and Charles Revol-Tissot clashed with a Fokker Eindekker over Focșani and aborted its mission.

In early Summer 1917, the needed materiel began to arrive to aid the escadrila in its fighting in the Battle of Mărășești.

[10] On 20 July 1917 at 9.15 in the morning, he shot down a German airplane which crashed near Ciușlea, while flying on Nieuport no.

The following day, King Ferdinand I arrived at the Tecuci Airfield to posthumously honor Texier, and to award Gond the Order of the Star of Romania with Swords.

[12] Maurice Gond's service in Romania earned him an award as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor on 21 August 1917:[12] "An excellent pilot and Chef d'Escadrille, who has shown himself through his courage on several difficult missions, especially during the operations of 24 July.

[13] On 21 October 1917, the entirety of Escadrila N.3 was cited in orders:[12] "Escadrille Franco-Roumaine N3, under the command of Capitaine Gond, who has demonstrated to all his pilots his valiant ardor and high sense of devotion.