France, Ministère de la Guerre, Direction de L’Aéronautique, an important large gold award medal by P. A. Morlon for the Ministère de la Guerre, Direction de L’Aéronautique, Gallia with sword and spear leading a Nieuport ‘Bébé’ biplane over the city of Rheims, the Cathedral at left, reverse ‘Pro Patria’ over symbolic winged propellor and presentation inscription, ‘Au S/Lieutenant E. Stribick, 1 Avion Ennemi Abattu Le 12 Mars 1916’, 68mm, 220gm, in its original fitted red leather presentation case with gilt-blocked lid, tiny test cut on reverse rim, otherwise brilliant and as struck, extremely rare £3000-3500

See Colour Plate VII

Emile Stribick was born at St Étienne (dép. Loire) on 20 May 1891, and was called up for National Service in 1911. He joined the 16eme Regt Artillerie on 10 October 1912, but transferred to the 2e Groupe Aeronautique in January 1913, and to the 2e Groupe d’Aviation in January 1914. In September 1914 he joined Escadrille HF [Henri Farman] 28 as a Corporal.

On 28 October 1914, Corporal Stribick, accompanied by his passenger David in a Henri Farman, attacked a German photographic two-seater which was calmly photographing French positions, resting a Hotchkiss machine-gun on the side of the cockpit. With a short burst the enemy two-seater was despatched and Stribick landed alongside the wreckage of his opponent to the delirious delight of the troops on the ground. This was the first occasion that an enemy aircraft had been shot down by a machine-gun in aerial combat. For this exploit which really inaugurated the era of aerial combat, both Stribick and David were awarded the Médaille Militaire on 25 October 1914, and Stribick was promoted to Sergeant on 3 November 1914.

In January 1915 he transferred to Escadrille HF 19, becoming Adjutant in April 1915. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre in June 1915, and the Légion d’Honneur in March 1916, this in recognition of his having shot down an enemy aircraft on the 12th March, for which he was also awarded the special gold medal by the Ministry of War. Promoted to Sous-Lieutenant the same month, he was attached to the Russian Air Force from April 1916 to November 1917. He was killed in an accident near Trappes railway station on 26 March 1918.

The medal is sold with an original statement of services, a letter from the Ministère de La Guerre to his brother at St Ètienne, dated 17 June 1920, forwarding the medal to him, plus the original wooden box in which the medal was despatched (Médaille d’or, Valeur déclarée: Trois mille francs); and thirty original wartime photographs, many depicting Stribick with his aircraft, one believed to show the wreckage and two bodies of his first kill.