Célestin Hennion

Célestin Hennion MC ONI OLH CVO (8 September 1862 – 14 March 1915) was a French police officer who rose to head the Prefecture of Police (French: Préfecture de Police). He was responsible for the reorganisation of the Préfecture and the introduction of the Tiger's Brigades, ancestor of the French judicial police. In France, he is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern policing.

Early life

Hennion was born in Gommegnies in 1862, to Joseph Ghislain Hannion, a farm labourer, and Mary Catherine Basilaire and he was educated at Lycee Le Quesnoy. After leaving grammar school he joined the French Army, and was posted to Tunisia as part of the 110th Infantry Regiment, from 1880 until 1885 during which time Tunisia became a French Protectorate.

Police career

On returning to France he joined the police force and in 1886 was an inspector in a specialised railways squad. Hennion had a rapid rise through the force, and was moved into intelligence work where he investigated organisations intent on over-throwing the Third Republic. During the 1890s, Hennion investigated the counter-evidence provided by Georges Picquart during the Dreyfus affair, becoming a strong supporter of Alfred Dreyfus. Hennion also thwarted several attacks against political figures and the state, including the 1899 coup d'état by Paul Déroulède and was dispatched with additional troops to quell unrest in Rennes during the second Dreyfus trial. In 1899 Hennion was given the responsibility of protecting the French Head of State.

Hennion two-seater

The Hennion was a two seat French training and touring aircraft, completed just before World War II began. It was flown again post-war and later fitted with a new engine; it survived into the early 1960s.

Design and development

Emile Hennion was the chief pilot at the Casablanca Aero Club in the 1930s. Just before the outbreak of World War II he designed, built and flew a side-by-side seat two seat aircraft, powered by a Train 4A 01 inverted four cylinder air-cooled engine which produced only 30 kW (40 hp). His goals were safety in the hands of a beginner, economy, comfort and true touring ability. The first two features made it of some interest as an ab initio trainer after France had gone to war.

In this pre-war form it was known as the Hennion 01. It was a low wing, cantilever monoplane, its wings straight tapered with blunt tips and of quite high aspect ratio (10). The wings were built around a single spar and fabric covered, though the ailerons were plywood skinned.