SACRED LEGACY ARCHIVES™

Valérie André

1922-04-21 – 2025-01-21

Médecin general inspecteur Valérie andre lors de l'inauguration d'une rue à son nom Le 3 septembre 2014Credit: 7akp4zz

Life & Legacy

Valérie André (French pronunciation: [valeʁi ɑ̃dʁe] ; 21 April 1922 – 21 January 2025) was a neurosurgeon, aviator, and the first female member of the French military to achieve the rank of General Officer, in 1976, as Physician General. In 1981, she was promoted to Inspector General of Medicine. A helicopter pilot, she is the first woman to have piloted a helicopter in a combat zone. She was also a founding member of the Académie de l'air et de l'espace.
As a member of the military, she was not addressed as "Madame la Générale" (a term reserved for spouses of generals) but as "General".

Occupation & Career

military physician, helicopter pilot, physician

Education

University of Paris

Accomplishments, Inventions & Publications

Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour; Croix de guerre 1939–1945; Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit; Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures; Aeronautical Medal; Cross of Valour; Cross for Military Valour; Legionnaire of Legion of Merit; Combatant's Cross; Indochina Campaign commemorative medal; Legion of Merit; National Order of Vietnam; Médaille militaire; Commander of the French Order of Academic Palms; Escapees' Medal; French Liberation Medal; Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog; Knight of the Royal Order of Cambodia; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav‎; Commander of the Order of Leopold II; Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Honour medal for firefighters

Legacy Highlights

Honors & Awards

Aeronautical Medal · Combatant's Cross · Commander of the French Order of Academic Palms · Commander of the Order of Leopold II · Croix de guerre 1939–1945 · Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures · Cross for Military Valour · Cross of Valour · Escapees' Medal · French Liberation Medal · Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour · Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit · Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog · Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany · Honour medal for firefighters · Indochina Campaign commemorative medal · Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav‎ · Knight of the Royal Order of Cambodia · Legion of Merit · Legionnaire of Legion of Merit · Médaille militaire · National Order of Vietnam