Willy Coppens (6 July 1892 - 21 December 1986) was Belgium's leading fighter ace and the champion "balloon buster" of World War I. July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fighter Ace is an online multiplayer computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ...

A prewar soldier, Coppens learned to fly on his own in Britain and joined the Belgian Air Force in 1916, flying observation aircraft. Ensign of the Belgian Air Force // Early Years The Belgian Air Force was founded in 1909 as a branch of the Belgian Army. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 - The Royal Army Medical Corps first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

Once transferred to fighters, Coppens made a spectacular record. Between April and October 1918 he was credited with destroying 34 German observation balloons and three airplanes, nearly as many victories as Belgium's other five aces combined. 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

On his last mission, 14 October, Coppens was severely wounded and had a leg amputated. For his wartime service he was knighted, becoming Willy Omer Francois Jean Coppens de Houthulst, for a forest in his squadron's operating area. He was decorated by Belgium, France, Britain, and Serbia. Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia    â€“ Kosovo        (UN administration)    â€“ Vojvodina  â€“ Montenegro Official language Serbian1 Capital Belgrade Independence Declared from the Ottoman Empire Gained autonomy 1817 Independence July 13, 1878 Area – Total – % water 88,361 km² n/a Population – Total (2002) (not including data for Kosovo and Metohia Province) – Density 7. ...

Between the two World Wars Coppens was Belgian air attaché to four nations. He retired to Switzerland in 1940. His memoirs, Days on the Wing, were published in 1931 and reissued in the 1970s as Flying in Flanders. 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ...

References

Norman Franks, Russell Guest, & Gregory Alegi (1997). Above the War Fronts. Grub Street, London.