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Coulonges-Cohan in Aisne, Hauts-de-France, France — Western Europe
 

Quentin Roosevelt

 
 
Quentin Roosevelt Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 8, 2024
1. Quentin Roosevelt Marker
Inscription.  

Quentin Roosevelt
Le 14 juillet 1918 à l'issue d'un combat aérien dans le ciel de Coulonges, le Nieuport 28 du lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt est abattu et s'écrase ici, près du hameau de Chamery. Mais qui était donc Quentin Roosevelt ? Pourquoi est-il si célèbre ?

C'est en 1897 que Quentin Roosevelt nait au coeur d'une famille qui compte déjà 5 enfants. Il n'est autre qu'un des fils du Président des Etats-Unis d'Amérique, Théodore Roosevelt. Dans les années 1900 les couloirs de la Maison Blanche sont ses espaces de jeux favoris. En 1909, Quentin accompagne sa mère pour un voyage en Europe. Il découvre la France et se passionne pour les avions lorsqu'il les découvre à l'occasion de la Grande Semaine de l'Aviation de Reims en août 1909. C'est une révélation et un jour c'est certain, il volera lui aussi dans l'infini du ciel.

Lorsque la Première Guerre Mondiale éclate, Théodore n'est plus président, mais il est très préoccupé par le conflit et estime que les Etats-Unis doivent se battre aux côtés de la France et de l'Angleterre. Avec ses trois frères, Quentin s'engage dans l'armée. Pour lui, ce sera
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l'aviation. Il intègre une école de pilotage dans l’Etat de New-York. Puis il est envoyé en France pour parfaire sa formation. Devenu très aguerri dans le pilotage il devient instructeur, mais il s'impatiente de ne pas pouvoir combattre car l'Etat-Major ne veut pas l'exposer. Enfin, grâce à son insistance, il intègre la 95 escadrille de chasse le 18 juin 1918. Le 10 juillet il abat son premier avion ennemi.

Le 14 Juillet, alors qu'il est sollicité pour former un groupe de Ragtime avec d'autres musiciens pour animer la fête nationale, il est appelé pour une mission de chasse d'avions d'observation allemands. Quatre aviateurs décollent dans leur Nieuport 28. Mais ils croisent sept avions de chasse Fokker allemands. Le combat s'engage mais malheureusement, Quentin est abattu et son avion s'écrase sur les hauteurs du hameau de Chamery.

Les Allemands récupèrent sa dépouille et il est enterré sur place avec les honneurs militaires: Une première tombe est aménagée, puis les Français et les Américains lui donnent une sépulture définitive. Après la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, sa dépouille a été transférée au cimetière américain de Colleville-sur-mer aux côtés de son frère Théodore junior, mort en juillet 1944. Mais une stèle continue de commémorer cet évènement, de même que la fontaine qu'a fait aménager la famille Roosevelt à la sortie de Chamery sur la route de Cierges.

A
Quentin Roosevelt Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 8, 2024
2. Quentin Roosevelt Marker
The original grave site of Quentin Roosevelt can be seen in the distance.
l'instar de la famille Coret, instituteurs à Coulonges, les enfants des écoles rendent régulièrement hommage a Quentin Roosevelt depuis les années 50. A l'occasion du centenaire du début de la Grande Guerre, le 3 Août 2014, puis à l’occasion du centenaire de sa mort, en août 2018, un immense hommage a été rendu à Quentin Roosevelt, en présence de plusieurs milliers de personnes, de la famille Roosevelt, et particulierement de Richard Williams Derby, son aritze petit neveu au cours de deux mémorables show de modélisme aérien en hommage à tous les pilotes de la Grande Guerre et dont la réplique du Nieuport 28 de Quent yet honneur. Assurément, les habitants de Coulonges-Cohan n'oublieront jamais ce héros américain venu en France, combattre pour la liberté.

Enterrement par les Allemands, avec les honneurs

Les enfants fleurissaient la tombe de Quentin chaque année.

Les Allemands photographient la dépouille de Quentin devant les restes de son avion, peu après sa chute.

Quentin aux commandes d'un Nieuport 28

D'apres la band dessinée Quentin Roosevelt, une étoile américaine dans le ciel de France aux éditions de l’Escadrille Quentin Roosevelt. 2020.
Pour en savoir plus: http://coulongescahan free.fr - Panneau réalisé par l'association Coulonges-Cohan un autre regard - ©2020

English translation
Quentin
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Roosevelt

On July 14, 1918, at the end of an aerial combat in the sky of Coulonges, Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt's Nieuport 28 was shot down and crashed here, near the hamlet of Chamery. But who was Quentin Roosevelt? Why is he so famous?

It was in 1897 that Quentin Roosevelt was born into a family that already had 5 children. He is none other than one of the sons of the President of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt. In the 1900s, the corridors of the White House were his favorite play areas. In 1909, Quentin accompanied his mother on a trip to Europe. He discovered France and became passionate about planes when he discovered them during the Reims Great Aviation Week in August 1909. It's a revelation And one day it is certain, he will also fly into the infinity of the sky.

When the First World War broke out, Theodore was no longer president, but he was very concerned about the conflict and believed that the United States should fight alongside France and England. With his three brothers, Quentin joined the army. For him, it will be aviation. He joined a flight school in New York State. Then he was sent to France to complete his training. Having become very seasoned in piloting, he became an instructor, but he was impatient not to be able to fight because the General Staff did not want to expose him. Finally, thanks to his insistence, he joined the 95th Fighter Squadron on June 18, 1918. On July 10, he shot down his first enemy aircraft.

On July 14, when he was asked to form a Ragtime band with other musicians to animate the national holiday, he was called for a German observation plane fighter mission. Four airmen took off in their Nieuport 28s. They came across seven German Fokker fighter planes. The fight begins, but unfortunately, Quentin was shot down and his plane crashed on the heights of the hamlet of Chamery.

The Germans recovered his remains and he was buried on the spot with military honours: A first grave was set up, then the French and Americans gave him a final burial. After the Second World War, his remains were transferred to the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer alongside his brother Thoodore Junior, who died in July 1944. But a stele continues to commemorate this event, as does the fountain that the Roosevelt family had built at the exit of Chamery on the the road to Cierges.

Like the Coret family, teachers in Coulonges, school children have been regularly providing tribute to Quentin Roosevelt since the 50s.n the occasion of the centenary of his death, in August 2018, a huge tribute was paid to Quentin Roosevelt, in the presence of several thousand people, from the Roosevelt family, and especially Richard Williams Derby, his great nephew. During two memorable model aerial shows in homage to all the pilots of the Great War a replica of Quentin's Nieuport 28 was honored. Certainly, the inhabitants of Coulonges-Cohan will not forget this American hero who came to France to fight for freedom.

Burial by the Germans, with honours

The children used to bring flowers to Quentin's grave every year.

The Germans photographed Quentin's body in front of the remains of his plane, shortly after he fell.

Quentin at the controls of a Nieuport 28

Based on the comic strip of Quentin Roosevelt, An American star in the sky of France, published by the Escadrille Quentin Roosevelt. 2020.
To find out more: http://coulongescahan free.fr - Panel created by the Coulonges-Cohan Association - Another look - ©2020
 
Erected 2020 by l'Association Coulonges-Cohan - Un autre regard.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is June 18, 1918.
 
Location. 49° 11.411′ N, 3° 37.458′ E. Marker is in Coulonges-Cohan, Hauts-de-France, in Aisne. Marker can be reached from Roosevelt south of Route D14, on the left when traveling south. The marker is south of the village of Chamery and can be reached by walking. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coulonges-Cohan, Hauts-de-France 02130, France. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 1st Lt Quentin Roosevelt (within shouting distance of this marker); Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt Memorial Fountain (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Raymond de la Tramerye (approx. 7.6 kilometers away).
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 33 times since then. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on June 26, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.

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Jul. 1, 2024