Roland Garros (1888-1918) was a leading pre-war French aviator and gained renewed fame during the First World War.
Garros' interest in aviation stemmed from a visit to the Reims air show of 1909; until this point he had studied music with the intention of becoming a concert pianist. However his career aspirations underwent a rapid change in the wake of the air show.
Following a series of air lessons he himself practiced exhibition and stunt flying, setting numerous records during 1911-12. In 1913 he flew from France to Tunisia - some 800 km - and was teaching military aviation in Germany when war broke out in August 1914. Undeterred he smuggled his way back to France - via a night flight to Switzerland - and signed up with the renowned Storks squadron.
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