Jean Tourtay

Buffeted by the wind in his basket hanging below the baggy envelope of fabric that formed his observation balloon, second lieutenant Jean Tourtay scanned the battlefield. For several weeks he’d been spending hours hundreds of metres up in the air, providing news by telephone to the commanders of the general staff about progress on the front and guiding countless shots from the big guns.

Since arriving on the front at Verdun, Tourtay had earned himself a good reputation. Despite the smoke that covered the battlefield and the bad weather, his observations were always reliable.

But on this day, Sunday 2 April 1916, he gave the message that the Germans were advancing in force south of Fort Douaumont. How could that be possible? The battle certainly was raging. But on the ground, the infantry hadn’t reported anything. According to Tourtay, the Germans were now south of the railway line at Fleury-Vaux. He asked for a barrage of artillery fire on this area where the French reserve troops were stationed.

Had his eyes deceived him? Within the general staff, the commanders were worried, hesitant. The situation was serious but they didn’t know what to decide - they were afraid of firing on their own troops. General Nudant telephoned Tourtay directly and asked him to swear on his honour that he was sure of what he’d seen. And he did. The devastating blast was launched.

A few hours later, a French regiment was sent to counterattack. As they advanced, the French soldiers encountered numerous dead and wounded Germans, victims of the terrible shelling.

On that day, the French were saved by falcon-eyed Jean Tourtay, the ballooning ace.