Michel Joseph Callixte Marie Coiffard (1892-1918) was among the most notable French fighter pilots of the First World War. A decorated prewar infantryman, he was serving in an artillery unit when the war began in 1914. Repeatedly wounded and cited for courage under fire, Coiffard transferred to the infantry and finally was declared unfit for ground combat. Consequently, he joined the air service. He completed flight training during the first four months of 1917 and joined Escadrille N.154. After achieving his first victory he was commissioned late that year. Coiffard scored two more successes in early 1918. However, not until the squadron transitioned to the sturdy SPAD series did he hit his stride. As a "balloon specialist" he made his mark, destroying five ''Drachen'' in eight days of June and July. At the end of July he had run his score to 17, adding eight in August and six more in September. In downing his 34th victim (a Fokker D.VII) he was critically wounded and died the next day, 29 October He was 26 years old. Coiffard's record included 24 balloons (21 shared) and 10 airplanes (4 shared), ranking him sixth among French aces. He was awarded four medals, Médaille Militaire, Officier and Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, and Croix de Guerre
He completed flight training April 19, 1917 and joined Escadrille N.154 on June 28, 1917. He achieved his first victory on September 5. Coiffard scored two more successes in early 1918. This earned him the award of Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur on February 2. The citation notes he was wounded four times as an infantryman. However, not until the squadron transitioned in June from Nieuports to the sturdy SPAD series did he hit his stride. N.154 was re-designated Spa154 to mark the change in aircraft. Coiffard had his new craft's wheels and cowl painted red and dubbed his new Spad XIII 'Mado' after his girlfriend. He also began collaborating with squadron mates in concerted attacks on observation balloons. As a result, Spa154 would become the premier balloon busting squadron of the war, with over 70 claimed. However, the French system of awarding a victory to every pilot involved in a shoot-down blurs the actual count. Lieutenant Coiffard succeeded to the task of squadron commander upon the wounding of Capitaine Lahoulle on July 15. In this capacity, he was admired as a trainer of his pilots; on one occasion, he sent a pilot on a month's leave to recuperate from combat fatigue. As a "balloon specialist" Coiffard made his mark as a warrior, destroying nine Drachen balloons in July, along with three German aircraft. At the end of July he had run his score to 17, adding eight in August and six more in September. On three occasions, he shot down three balloons in the same day. On the last of these triple victory days, September 15, he and his wingman downed three observation balloons in six minutes. On October 28, 1918, Spa 154 was on patrol. Coiffard spotted German Fokker D.VIIs, and gave the signal to attack, which was seen only by his wingman. He and Second Lieutenant Condemine fought it out with the German patrol. While downing his 34th victim (a Fokker D.VII) he was critically wounded by a two bullets; one hit him in the thigh and the other pierced his chest back to front passing through a lung. He flew 12 kilometers back to a perfect landing in friendly hands despite his wound, but died three hours later while receiving a blood transfusion in an ambulance transporting him to Berenicourt. The following day, he was posthumously made an Officer de la Legion d'honneur. Coiffard's record included 24 balloons (21 shared) and 10 airplanes (4 shared), ranking him sixth among French aces. Only two World War I aces shot down a greater number of observation balloons. He was buried in the National Necropolis of Sommepy-Tahure (Marne) in grave number 1027.
