Émile Jean Chaline (22 February 1922 – 16 May 2020) was a French admiral and member of the French Resistance. A member of the Free French Naval Forces, he served his career with the French Navy at the rank of squadron vice-admiral.
Biography
The son of Émile Chaline and Jeanne Le Saint, Chaline completed his secondary education at the Lycée de Brest. He graduated from the École Navale as an engineer, and then enrolled at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1940.
Chaline joined the Free French Naval Forces on 1 July 1940 with the help of his uncle, Charles Chaline. He took part in the Battle of the Atlantic aboard the Léopard and was part of the Normandy landings in June 1944.
After World War II, Chaline was deputy to the head of the military cabinet of Prime Minister Georges Pompidou, and then was chief of the private staff of Pompidou as President. He then served as First Commander of the Naval Training Center in Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer. His rule at the school was nicknamed "Chalingrad" for his strictness. He was appointed Naval Attaché to the United States in 1974.
Chaline served as Maritime Prefect of Cherbourg-Octeville from 1979 to 1980. From 1988 to 2010, he chaired the Association of Free French Naval Forces.
Émile Chaline died on 16 May 2020 at the age of 98. Admiral Christophe Prazuck, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, paid tribute to him via Twitter.
Decorations
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Grand Officer of the Ordre national du Mérite
Croix de Guerre 1939-1945
Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures
Escapees' Medal
Officer of the Ordre du Mérite Maritime
Cross of the resistance volunteer combatant
Commander of the Order of the Black Star
Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite
Officer of the Order pro Merito Melitensi
Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog
Works
Historique des Forces navales françaises libres (1990)