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I leave these e-mails as received so the reader sees how these clues and people come together in a common cause. February 6, 2010 Dear Sir, I’m French and I am doing a research about a man called Jean de Voyod. I have spent a long time on your great website because of him, but he doesn’t appear in any place! Indeed, I have some documents about Jean de Voyod: He was at Gatchina’s aviation school in 1914 or 1916 or 1914-16 and at military school of Korpousno in 1915 (with Chief warrant officer Sirenko) Also He flew under the orders of of Kruten in the "2nd group" of aviators. (But he does not seem to be an ace because he doesn't appear in the first names given near the name of Kruten) After that we are losing his track till year 1929-30: at this time, he seems to have flown at this time for the CNAC because I have seen a photo of him on a Leoning amphibie and there is a Leaflet which seems to be of the CNAC in the same place. Have you ever seen this name? Anyway, thank you for answering and again congratulations for your very interesting website. Valentine del Moral France February 8, 2010 Bonjour, Tom Moore has forwarded your inquiry regarding Jean de Voyod and CNAC in the hope that I could provide an answer to your question. I am frustrated to report that I cannot! However, I am fascinated by possibilities. As it happens, I have recently been researching members of l’Aéroclub impérial de Russe circa 1910-1914. Here is the little I have discovered about M. de Voyod, although you likely already have this information, and much more: Jean Alexandre de Voyod may have been born in London, England, in the spring of 1891. In 1917, he took advanced fighter pilot training near Odessa. By 1918, he was flying for the Revolutionary Red Army, but became disillusioned with the Reds and decided to escape to France to fly with l’Armée de l'Air. On 19 August 1918, he took off from the Red base at Sviyazhsk and deserted to the White air corps which was stationed at Kazan. From Kazan, he proceeded to Samara intending to leave at once for Paris, however, he learned he was a wanted man. The Reds were offering a reward of 2,000 rubles for his capture and return. Thereafter, I lose track of M. de Voyod until March 1946 when he and his wife Nathalie, who apparently lived in China at this time, made arrangements to sail from Shanghai to Sweden. However it appears he did not make this voyage. M. de Voyod is a very intriguing man, and I wish you every success with your research! Avec mes meilleurs messages, Patti Gully Vancouver, BC February 9, 2010 Dear Tom, Thank you for sending my “bottle in the sea” to Patti. -------------------------------------- Dear Patti, Thank you for the great information. I send you a leaflet which must be interesting for you and Tom…    At this point of my work, what I can tell you can be said in these few words: 1913-16 at Gatchina school. (as student ?) 1916 at Odessa’s Aerobatics school 1916 meets (or sees) Sikorsky at Gatchina. 1917 in the 13th army at Loutsk september 1917 Fighter pilot in the “2nd group of fight” commanded by captain Kruten. 1923-24 is active (but as??) at aviation school of Shenyang (Moukden) 1924 meets the lord of war, Zhang Zuolin. 1926 meets the lord of war, Wu Peifu 1926 active at the airport of Tsientsin (Tianjin) during the first incidents between Chinese and Japanese. 1929 flies for the CNAC You can imagine how helpful you’d be! Could you be able to find more little piece of information? (I would like to find the “reward paper”!) Tous mes remerciements. A très bientôt! Valentine February 9, 2010 Dear Patti, In the newspapers here in Paris, Vancouver seems to looking for the snow… Incredible, few days before the beginning of the Games! Anyway! It is going to be fun! About our flying ghost, your documents are great! I am still studying the information I’ve got and keep in touch with you. I just quickly found this morning the notice below which seems to confirm there a plausible artist father for Jean de Voyod in London in 1891. We just have to find an official paper certifying his existence! What a job! In at once, Valentine Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, July 25, 1891 (p.1 of 49) Produced by Malcolm Farmer, William Flis, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. VOL. 101. July 25, 1891. OPERATIC NOTES. _Tuesday, July 14_.--Madame NORDICA is not at her best as _Aïda_. It lacks colour--that is on the face and hands, where at least should be shown some more "colourable pretence" for being the daughter of so blackened a character as is her father _Amonasro_, played as a villain of the deepest dye by M. DEVOYOD. When the celebrated march was heard, the players didn't seem particularly strong in trumps, and the trumpets giving a somewhat "uncertain sound,"--a trifle husky, as if they'd caught cold,--somewhat marred the usually thrilling effect. Gorgeous scene; and RAVELLI the Reliable as _Radames_ quite the success of the evening. Mlle. GUERCIA as _Amneris_ seemed to have made up after an old steel plate in a bygone Book of Beauty. Where are those Books of Beauty now! And _The Keepsake_? Where the pseudo-Byronic poetry and the short stories by Mrs. NAMBY and Mr. PAMBY? But this is only a marginal note, not in the Operatic score. http://m.wattpad.com/16373?m=1 villa browna livres anciens 27, avenue Rapp 75 007 Paris 09 53 76 14 18 06 33 258 158 villabrowna.com February 9, 2010 Dear Valentine, Thank you so much for sharing the valuable information you have accumulated thus far! And the schedule is WONDERFUL! There seems to have been a gathering of Russian aviators at Shenyang in the early 1920s. “Old Marshal” Zhang Zuolin was keenly interested in aviation. He acquired a number of aircraft and needed aviators to fly them, and he even hired a Japanese aviatrice! (although I don’t know if she actually flew in Shenyang. I am wondering if she was a Japanese spy?):  In February 1924, when Zhang’s son married, a Russian aviator in his employ was killed during an aerial display celebrating the nuptials: North-China Herald, 9 February 1924, p. 204  
Please find attached the information regarding M. de Voyod’s possible birth in London and his proposed voyage to Sweden via the ss Highland Chieftain. As regards his passage, a line is drawn through his name which usually indicate the trip was not made. However, Nathalie’s name is not struck off. They were going to sail First Class! I am wondering if M. de Voyod was related to the eminent baritone, Jules Devoyod, who died suddenly on stage in St Petersburg in 1901, and/or the famous actress Suzanne Devoyod?  Mlle Suzanne Devoyod, du Théatre National de l'Odéon Le filigrane sur la photo, ne figure pas sur l'objet livré. Page extraite de la Revue "Le Théatre" - 1906 Couverture seule En très bon état, dos imprimé voir la photo ci dessous svp. Format avec les marges : ~ 34* 26 cm. Original de 1906, ce n'est PAS une reproduction moderne Jules Devoyod was highly celebrated and in the late 19th century, he sang in all the capitals of Europe, hence his son might have been born in London? Just speculation!! Jules Devoyod also had a teenaged daughter who committed suicide in 1907. As regards his flying career in Russia during the war, I hope to have more information in the next few days. Right now, I’m off to see the sights – the Winter Olympics are coming to Vancouver on Friday, and the city is bursting with excitement!! Best, Patti  or would like to be added to the CNAC e-mail distribution list, please let the CNAC Web Editor, Tom Moore, know. Thanks! |