École-Militaire in Paris in Département de Paris, Île-de-France, France — Western Europe

Sosthène Mortenol

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 13, 2024

1. Sosthène Mortenol Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Ici en 1915
Sosthène Mortenol
1859-1930.
Polytechnicien, fils d'esclave libéré, organise
la premiere défense antiaérienne
de Paris

English translation
Here in 1915
Sosthène Mortenol
(1859-1930)
Polytechnician, son of a freed slave, organized the first anti-aircraft defense of Paris

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 48° 51.19′ N, 2° 18.897′ E. Memorial is in Paris, Île-de-France, in Département de Paris. It is in École-Militaire. It is on Boulevard des Invalides north of Rue de Babylone, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 31 Bd des Invalides, Paris, Île-de-France 75007, France. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

a coastal Mediterranean country,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony

and also the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker: Simone Weil (within shouting distance of this marker); Quartier General du Marechal Gallieni (within shouting distance of this marker); Marie Émile Fayolle (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Military Medalists Memorial (about 150 meters away); Marechal Gallieni (about 240 meters away); Rainer-Maria Rilke (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Michel de Bretagne (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Hôtel de Clermont (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paris.

Also see . . . Sosthène Mortenol at BlackPast.

With the onset of World War I, Mortenol was presented with a new opportunity. Recalling his previous experiences with the black captain, General Gallieni, now the military governor of Paris, put him in charge of the air defense of the city, a crucial responsibility requiring the latest technical knowledge. Mortenol called for the use of high-powered searchlights to locate enemy German planes invading the air space over Paris and to destroy them with anti-aircraft fire from the ground, a defensive tactic used to this day.

(Submitted on August 14, 2024.)

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 13, 2024

2. Sosthène Mortenol Marker

The marker is near the entrance to the Lycée Victor Drury.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 14, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.