Background
He was born in Paris and earned French license #177 from the Aeronautical Club De France.
He was born in Paris and earned French license #177 from the Aeronautical Club De France.
He toured the United States in 1911-1912 with the Moisant International Aviators. He became known for daring tactics and was called the Flying-Fool by the public. The first airplane rescue at sea by another airplane was made when on 14 August 1911 Simon had been flying over Lake Michigan in a monoplane and accidentally dived too low.
Pilot Hugh Robinson in a Curtiss hydroplane spotted him and sent boats to his rescue.
In February 1911 the Mexican government engaged Simon to reconnoiter rebel positions near Juarez, Mexico. During World War One he commanded a squadron that taught acrobatic tactics to fighter pilots.
Simon was married by the time of WW1 and had a commission as a Capitaine(Captain). René Simon died in Cannes on 21 April 1947.