It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Médecin Général Valérie André, on January 21, 2025, at the age of 102. A founding member of our institution, she left an exceptional legacy in the fields of military medicine, aviation and the promotion of equality between men and women in the armed forces.
Born in Strasbourg on April 21, 1922, Valérie André’s passion for aviation began in her teens. After taking flying lessons at her hometown flying club, she went on to study medicine, graduating in 1947. However, it was as a military doctor that she established herself as a pioneer: in 1948, she enlisted in Indochina, where she became the first woman to practice as a military doctor.
Assigned to the first hospital in Mỹ Tho, then to the Saigon hospital, she quickly made a name for herself not only for her medical skills, but also for her role in medical evacuation. At a time when combat zones were often inaccessible by land, she played an active role in setting up air rescue services, using helicopters to evacuate the wounded. In 1950, she joined Captain Alexis Santini’s team and began flying helicopters, in particular the Hiller 360 and Sikorsky H-34, to evacuate the wounded to safer medical centers or hospitals.
Her experience in Indochina was marked by several major missions. On May 26, 1950, she carried out a particularly risky mission in a border zone between Vietnam and Laos, where access was only possible by parachute. She treated the wounded in extremely difficult conditions, in an area where ground reinforcements were inaccessible. She also carried out several evacuations, including a particularly memorable one on December 11, 1951, when she saved the wounded after a serious accident on the Black River, overcoming thick fog and enemy fire.
“There are no perilous missions, only missions that must be accomplished at all costs, because human life is at stake.”
Général Valérie André
On April 14, 1952, she became the first woman to land on the aircraft carrier Arromanches in Along Bay, to evacuate wounded on board. This feat marked a turning point in her career, and she became an emblematic figure of air first aid in wartime.
Her service in Indochina continued until 1953, and in all she made 129 evacuation flights, saving many lives in the process. Her work as a medical officer and helicopter pilot in Indochina is recognized as a major contribution to the development of air rescue techniques. She later helped found the French Air Rescue League (LIFRASSA), developing concrete regulations for air rescue.
In 1976, Valérie André reached the pinnacle of her career by becoming the first woman in France to be promoted to General Medical Officer, and completed her career in 1981 with the rank of Inspector General of the French Army Medical Corps.
Multiply decorated, she is the third woman to be elevated to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, and the first to receive the same distinction for the National Order of Merit. She is also the most decorated military woman in the world.
In 2022, to celebrate her centenary, the Paris-Issy-les-Moulineaux heliport was named “Héliport Issy-les-Moulineaux – Général Valérie-André” in her honor. This choice was all the more appropriate as it was in this town that she married Alexis Santini, uncle of André Santini, the town’s mayor since 1980.
A founding member of our institution, Valérie André has dedicated her life to the advancement of aerospace medicine and the defense of the equality of women and men in the armed forces. Her work has paved the way for many generations of women and men to follow in her footsteps in the world of aeronautics and space.
“Women as well as men are sometimes eager to take on positions of high responsibility, and this is not unique to the military.”
Général Valérie André
We will remember her as a pioneer, a visionary and an exceptional woman. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends, and to all those who had the honour of knowing her and working alongside her. Surgeon General Valérie André will forever remain a model of courage, competence and commitment, and her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
A tribute will be paid to him at a future session.
