Born in January 1920, Charles Monier took an early interest in mechanical engineering and was educated at the Bréguet school. In 1937, he passed his tourist pilot’s licence at the Lognes Aeroclub and, when war was declared, joined the air force. He passed his military pilot’s licence in March 1940 and joined the Avord fighter school. The Armistice was declared before he had seen active service.
He then joined the Free French Air Forces in London and then the fighter detachment No. 1 on the Libyan front. Monier, who was nicknamed Popoff, then joined the Alsace group which included all the French fighter pilots of the Middle East. He defended the El-Alamein sky during the major battle that decided Egypt’s fate in the Spring of 1942.
He then took part in campaigns in the north of Europe but his lack of progress in English held him back from being promoted to the top ranks as he should have done given his abilities as a pilot and serviceman. Given the rank of reserve officer candidate in January 1944, he volunteered to join the Normandy GC 3 fighter group which was operating on the Russian front.