serviceyears branch death_date death_place birth_place allegiance unit awards birth_date rank image article_title name
1912 - 1940 grenadiers , '' compagnie des aviateurs '' 21 december 1986 de panne , west flanders , belgium watermael-boitsfort , brussels , belgium belgium 2nd escadrille de chasse , escadrilles -lrb- squadrons -rrb- 4 , grenadiers 6 , 1ère escadrille de chasse , 9ème order , belgian croix de guerre , french legion d'honneur , of serbian order of the white eagle , british distinguished service leopold order , british military cross , french croix de guerre ii , order of the crown 6 july 1892 major willy coppens.jpg willy coppens
 willy omer francois jean coppens
willy coppens

willy omer francois jean coppens -lrb- 6 july 1892 -- 21 december 1986 -rrb- was belgium 's leading fighter ace and the champion `` balloon buster '' of world war i.
