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Eugène Bullard, the Black Swallow of Death Histoire Eugène Bullard, The black Swallow of death Carlos Martinez (79 - Caroff de Kervezec) Il y a 100 ans, cet Américain rejoignait l’aéronautique militaire française après avoir été grièvement blessé durant la ba- taille de Verdun. Premier pilote de chasse noir de l’histoire, les autorités américaines refuseront de l’intégrer à leur esca- drille à cause de sa couleur de peau. C’est une histoire aussi étonnante qu’émouvante que nous raconte notre ancien délégué général. ien qu’il ait été le premier pilote de chasse noir américain, Eugène Bul- Blard est encore un étranger relatif dans son pays natal. Boxeur profession- nel, musicien, manager de club et impresa- rio de la vie nocturne parisienne entre les deux guerres mondiales, Eugène Bullard a trouvé en France un degré de respect et de liberté inconnu aux Noirs en Amérique. Il a contribué pendant vingt-cinq ans à cette émancipation, soutenant et encourageant l’expérience d’expatrié pour d’innombrables autres noirs américains, artistes, écrivains, acteurs et athlètes... Une enfance malheureuse Né à Colombus dans l’État de Géorgie (USA) le 9 octobre 1895, Eugène Jacques Enfin reconnu des autorités américaines. (James) Bullard est le septième des dix enfants de William Bullard et Joséphine 1865, ce n’est pas pour autant que la com- tation. En 1911, il devient garçon d’écurie, Thomas, d’origine indienne. Fils d’esclave, munauté noire est acceptée par la société puis jockey, et travaille par intermittence William avait pour seule identité le nom américaine. comme livreur. Quittant Atlanta pour Nor- du propriétaire blanc de son père : Wiley Témoin régulier de violences liées à la folk l’année suivante, il parvient à embar- Bullard, un planteur de coton du comté de discrimination raciale - il avouera plus tard quer sur un bateau allemand, le Marta Russ, Stewart. En 1890, William et Joséphine avoir vu son père échappant de justesse à un cargo se dirigeant vers Hambourg. Il dé- Bullard s’installent en Géorgie et s’atta- un lynchage -, et après plusieurs tentatives barque à Aberdeen, en Écosse où il gagne cheront à donner une éducation solide à de fugues, Eugène s’enfuit enfin de chez lui, sa vie comme saltimbanque et commence à leurs enfants, malgré leur statut social très en 1906, à 11 ans. Il va errer dans le Sud prendre des cours de boxe. modeste. des États-Unis pendant 6 ans avec une idée Continuant sa route, il travaille comme L’enfance d’Eugène est malheureuse. Sa fixe : rejoindre la France, pays où « l’homme cible vivante dans une foire de Liverpool, mère, qui le protégeait beaucoup, décède est jugé pour son mérite et non sur la couleur puis s’installe à Londres. Il y trouve les lorsqu’il a 7 ans et il découvre brutale- de sa peau », comme son père aimait à lui moyens de subsister correctement en exer- ment la cruauté créée par sa différence de raconter. çant deux métiers qui le marqueront dura- couleur. En effet, si l’abolition de l’escla- Pendant deux ans, il va se joindre à des blement : il se fait engager comme artiste vagisme est officiellement signée depuis gens du voyage, qui lui apprendront l’équi- dans une troupe de vaudeville noire améri- Le Piège n° 226 - 4e trimestre 2016 16 Revue des anciens élèves de l’École de l’air giment ont été autorisés à servir dans des guerre, la United States Army Air Service unités métropolitaines de l’armée françaises met en place un organe médical pour comme le 170e régiment d’infanterie de ligne. recruter les Américains servant dans le Photos DR Le 170 avait une réputation de troupes de Lafayette Flying Corps et les affecter à choc, c’est pourquoi les Allemands le sur- l’aviation de l’American Expeditionary nommaient « Les Hirondelles de la Mort ». Forces. Bullard réussit l’examen médi- Bullard choisit de rejoindre cette unité. cal mais ne fut pas accepté car seuls les Début 1916, le 170 est envoyé à Verdun avec pilotes blancs étaient autorisés à servir. la 48e division à laquelle il appartient. Pire, le Dr Edmund L. Gros, chirurgien à l’hôpital américain à Paris et en charge Continuer le combat du recrutement des pilotes, a décidé de dans l’aviation ne pas laisser Bullard voler à cause de sa Le 5 mars 1916, durant la bataille de couleur de peau. Le médecin fait tout ce Verdun, Bullard est grièvement blessé à la qui est en son pouvoir pour le clouer au face et aux jambes et sera évacué du champ sol. C’est ainsi que, quelques semaines de bataille. Il se verra remettre la Croix de plus tard, sous le prétexte d’une bagarre guerre pour sa bravoure dans cette bataille, avec un officier français qui l’avait in- mais il est dans le même temps déclaré sulté, Bullard est déclaré inapte au vol. inapte à servir dans l’infanterie. Devenu sergent, il est réaffecté au 170e Désireux de continuer à se battre, Bullard régiment d’infanterie en janvier 1918 et est admis le 2 octobre 1916 dans l’aéronau- y restera jusqu’à l’armistice. tique militaire française par le lieutenant- Eugène Bullard et son singe mascotte. colonel Adolphe Girod, responsable des Figure de la vie parisienne écoles de l’aviation. Démobilisé le 24 octobre 1919, Eugène caine, et se lance en parallèle dans une car- Après un stage de mitrailleur à Cazaux, il Bullard remonte à Paris et découvre l’en- rière de boxeur professionnel. Il fait ainsi obtient d’être nommé élève pilote. Il suit sa gouement pour le jazz. Il prend donc des connaissance de nombreux autres boxeurs formation initiale à Châteauroux et Avord cours et devient batteur professionnel, mais noirs américains dont les qualités de com- sur Caudron G3 et G4. Il obtient le bre- aussi serveur puis manager d’un cabaret. bat commencent à leur assurer une certaine vet de pilote numéro 6 950 de l’Aéro-Club Plus tard il reprend Le Grand-Duc, caba- célébrité en Europe. de France le 5 mai 1917, gagnant par là- ret réputé qu’il revend au début des années C’est à l’occasion d’un tournoi de boxe même un pari de 2 000 dollars : il est pilote trente pour ouvrir un bar, L’escadrille, rue organisé à Paris en 1913 qu’il décide de de chasse, le premier pilote noir au monde. Fontaine. Il aura même son propre club de s’y fixer. Ses tournées lui ont apporté suf- Pour la première fois, dix ans après son dé- gymnastique, le Bullard Athletic Club (salle fisamment de connaissances en langues part de Géorgie, il ose écrire à son père pour novatrice avec tennis de table, bains bouil- allemande et française pour s’improviser, lui annoncer la bonne nouvelle. À Paris, où lonnants, massages, cours de boxe !) C’est la à l’occasion, interprète auprès de touristes il devient un héros de guerre respecté, il période du « Tumulte Noir », et ces succès américains. adopte un petit singe qu’il nomme Jimmy font de lui une des figures majeures du jazz et porte dans sa veste quand il vole, comme et des nuits parisiennes, côtoyant Joséphine L’engagement pour la France mascotte. Baker, Louis Armstrong, le prince de Galles À son dix-neuvième anniversaire, et en se Comme beaucoup d’autres Américains, et l’as Charles Nungesser entre autres. vieillissant d’un an pour satisfaire aux cri- Bullard espère voler dans la fameuse es- Le 17 juillet 1923, il épouse Marcelle tères, il s’engage dans la Légion étrangère cadrille Lafayette, mais celle-ci a cessé de Straumann de laquelle il aura deux filles, afin de combattre l’offensive allemande, les recruter car son effectif est complet. Jacqueline et Lolita, et un garçon mort en USA n’étant pas encore engagés dans le Bullard appartient donc au Lafayette bas âge. Cette union s’achèvera en divorce premier conflit mondial. Flying Corps, appellation informelle dé- prononcé en 1935, Eugène conservant la Affecté au 1er régiment étranger, il est signant tous les volontaires américains garde de ses filles. envoyé dans la zone des combats après six volant avec les pilotes français dans dif- Durant cette période d’après guerre, l’hé- semaines d’entraînement. En 1915, il parti- férentes escadrilles de chasse, reconnais- roïsme oublié, Bullard est régulièrement en cipe aux combats sur le front de la Somme, sance ou bombardement. Le 28 juin 1917, butte à de nombreuses attaques racistes de en Picardie ; en mai et juin, il est en Artois ; il est promu caporal et affecté en août à la communauté américaine de Paris qui ne à l’automne il prend part à la seconde offen- l’escadrille SPA 93 basée à Beauzée-sur- lui pardonne pas d’avoir été pilote de chasse. sive en Champagne, sur la Meuse. Aire (sud de Verdun) puis en septembre à Plusieurs articles diffamatoires sont publiés La Légion étrangère a connu de lourdes l’escadrille SPA 85, volant sur SPAD VII contre lui. Il est également victime de plu- pertes en 1915, avec plus de la moitié de et Nieuport. Effectuant une vingtaine de sieurs agressions verbales ou physiques son effectif décimé. Le 15 novembre 1915, missions, il réussit à abattre deux avions (dont il sort victorieux). les survivants des 1er et 2e régiments étran- ennemis (Fokker Triplan et Pfalz D.III, qui gers furent rassemblés dans le régiment de ne sera pas confirmé). Sur le fuselage de Nouvel engagement marche de la Légion étrangère. Les volon- son avion figure sa devise : all blood runs red. pour la France taires étrangers qui servaient dans ce ré- Lorsque les États-Unis entrent en En 1928, le Mémorial La Fayette est E Revue des anciens élèves de l’École de l’air 17 Le Piège n° 226 - 4e trimestre 2016 Eugène Bullard, Histoire The black Swallow of death inauguré à Marnes-la-Coquette, dans Après la gloire, le mépris la flamme de la tombe du Soldat inconnu E l’ouest parisien, par le déjà nommé Dr Mais il ne se remettra pas complètement sous l’arc de triomphe.
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