Quick Facts
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Adjutant Laurent Baptisti Ruamps was a French flying ace during World War I. He was credited with ten confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.
World War I
1916
On 12 January 1916, Ruamps volunteered for military service. He was assigned to 2e Groupe d'Aviation as a Soldat de 2e classe. On 29 February 1916, the Groupe seconded him to Saint Cyr. He began pilot's training at Dijon on 30 September.
1917
He was awarded Military Pilot's Brevet No. 5257 on 24 January 1917. He continued his training at Châteauroux and Avord. On 27 March 1917, he was promoted to Corporal. On 22 April, he was forwarded to Pau for advanced training. On 17 May, he was assigned to Escadrille 42. On 21 August, he shot down a two-seater reconnaissance craft over Pagny-sur-Meuse. Four days later, he was promoted to Sergeant.
1918
On 4 January 1918, Ruamps shared a victory with Gilbert Sardier. Ruamps was promoted to Adjutant on 20 February 1918. On 8 April, he received a Médaille militaire to accompany his Croix de guerre. Ruamps would go on to score eight more victories before war's end, including a pair shared with Charles J. V. Macé and Maurice Bizot. Ruamps ended the war with 530 hours flight time.
Post World War I
On 11 July 1920, he became a Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur. He would rise within the Legion twice, to Officier in 1936, and to Commandeur in July 1961.