A SPAD S.XIII in Lafayette Escadrille livery

James Norman Hall (1887-1951) of the Lafayette Escadrille, 1917

The Lafayette Escadrille (from the French Escadrille Lafayette) was a squadron of the French Air Service, the Aéronautique militaire, during World War I composed largely of American pilots flying fighters. A SPAD S.XIII biplane fighter in the livery of the Lafayette Escadrille. ... A SPAD S.XIII biplane fighter in the livery of the Lafayette Escadrille. ... SPAD S.XIII The SPAD S.XIII was a French biplane fighter aircraft of World War I, developed by Société Pour LAviation et ses Dérivés from the earlier highly successful SPAD S.VII. It was one of the most capable fighters of the war, and one... Image File history File linksMetadata 99-42515q. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 99-42515q. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Founding

The squadron was formed in April 1916 as the Escadrille américaine (number 124) in Luxeuil prior to U.S. entry into the war. Dr. Edmund L. Gros, director of the American Ambulance Service, and Norman Prince, an American expatriate already flying for France, led the efforts to persuade the French government of the value of a volunteer American air unit fighting for France. The aim was to have their efforts recognized by the American public and thus, it was hoped, to rouse interest in abandoning neutrality and joining the fight. 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Luxeuil-les-Bains is a town and commune of eastern France, in the Haute-Saône département. ...

The squadron was quickly moved to Bar-le-Duc, closer to the front. A German objection filed with the U.S. government led to the name change in December over the actions of a supposed neutral nation. The original name implied that the U.S. was allied to France when it was in fact neutral. Bar-le-Duc is a town in northeastern France, in the Meuse département, of which it is the préfecture (capital). ...

The planes, their mechanics, and the uniforms were French, as was the commander, Captain Georges Thenault. Five French pilots were also on the roster, serving at various times. Raoul Lufbery, a French-born American citizen, became the squadron's first flying ace. Major Raoul Lufbery poses next to his Nieuport fighter Gervais Raoul Lufbery (March 14, 1885 – May 19, 1918) was an French-American fighter pilot and flying ace in World War I. Because he served in both the French and later the American air services in World War I, he is... The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, perhaps the most famous ace of all. ...

Combat

Squadron Insignia of the Lafayette Escadrille

The first major action seen by the squadron was at the Battle of Verdun. The squadron suffered heavy losses, but its core group of 38 was rapidly replenished by other Americans arriving from overseas. So many volunteered that a "Lafayette Flying Corps" was formed in part to take the overflow. Altogether, 265 American volunteers served in the Corps. Image File history File links Sioux. ... Image File history File links Sioux. ... Combatants France German Empire Commanders Philippe Pétain Robert Nivelle Erich von Falkenhayn Strength About 30,000 on 21 February 1916 About 150,000 on 21 February 1916 Casualties 378,000; of whom 120,000 died 337,000; of whom 100,000 died The Battle of Verdun was one of...

Although not formally part of the Lafayette Escadrille, other Americans such as Michigan's Fred Zinn, who was a pioneer of aerial photography, fought as part of the French Foreign Legion and later the French Aéronautique militaire. Friedrich Wilhelm Fred Zinn of Battle Creek, Michigan, was one of the volunteer American aviators who flew with the French Aéronautique Militaire in World War I. He is one of the early pioneers of using aerial photography for wartime reconnaissance. ... The Georgian terrace of Royal Crescent (Bath, England) from a hot air balloon Dulles Airport in Reston, Virginia, from an airplane Intersection of E42 and E451 from an aircraft soon after takeoff from Frankfurt International Airport Moreton Island in Queensland, Australia Aerial photography is the taking of photographs from the... Legionnaire (film) The French Foreign Legion (French: Légion étrangère) is a unique elite unit within the French Army established in 1831. ...

Sixty-three members died during the war, 51 of them in action against the enemy. The Corps is credited with 159 enemy kills. It amassed 31 Croix de guerre, and its pilots were awarded seven Médailles militaires and four Légions d'honneur. Eleven of its members were flying aces. The core squadron suffered nine losses and was credited with 34 victories. The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... French Military Medal The Médaille militaire (Military Medal) is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852. ... Chiang Kai-sheks Légion dhonneur. ... The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, perhaps the most famous ace of all. ...

The Escadrille had a reputation for daring, recklessness, and a party atmosphere.^{[citation needed]} Two lion cubs, named "Whiskey" and "Soda", were made squadron mascots. Binomial name Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) Distribution of Lions in Africa Synonyms Felis leo (Linnaeus, 1758) The lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. ...

Lufbery himself had gotten into trouble for hitting an officer who was so unwise as to lay hands on him during an argument. He was rescued from jail by his squadron mates. He was a man after the heart of French ace Charles Nungesser who came calling on the escadrille during one of his convalescences. He borrowed a Spad and shot down another German plane even though he was officially grounded. Charles Nungesser (1892-1927) was a French aviator and adventurer who is best known as a rival of Charles A. Lindbergh in the race to be first to fly non-stop between New York and Paris. ...

On February 8, 1918, the squadron was transferred to the United States Army Air Service as the 103rd Pursuit Squadron. For a brief period it retained its French planes and mechanics. Most of its veteran members were set to work training newly-arrived American pilots. February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The United States Army Air Service was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. ...

Members

• Clyde Balsley
• Courtney Campbell
• Victor Chapman (1890-1916) The first American aviator to be killed in World War I
• Elliot C. Cowdin
• Edmond Genet The first American flier to die after the United States declared war against Germany
• Bert Hall (1885-1948) Film Director, Actor, Writer & Lieutenant. Wrote two books about being a "Flyboy" in the Lafayette Escadrille.
• James Norman Hall (1887-1951), author of Mutiny on the Bounty
• Willis Haviland
• Tommy Hitchcock, Jr. (1900-1944)
• Walter Lovell
• Raoul Lufbery (1885-1918), an ace who died in combat
• Didier Masson (1886-1950)
• James R. McConnell
• Charles Nungesser (1892-1927)
• Edwin C. "Ted" Parsons
• Norman Prince (1887-1916), Founder and ace
• Frederick H. Prince, Jr. (1885-1963)
• Kiffin Rockwell
• William Thaw

Victor Chapman (1892 – September 23, 1916) was a French-American pilot who became famous during World War I. Chapmans mother died in 1898, when he was six. ... Edmond-Charles Genêt was born in Versailles in 1763. ... Bert Hall (1885-1948) was a film director, actor, writer and military aviator. ... James Norman Hall (April 22, 1887 - July 5, 1951) was a U.S. author. ... The mutineers turning Lt Bligh and some of the officers and crew adrift from HMAV Bounty, 29 April 1789. ... Thomas Hitchcock, Jr. ... Major Raoul Lufbery poses next to his Nieuport fighter Gervais Raoul Lufbery (March 14, 1885 – May 19, 1918) was an French-American fighter pilot and flying ace in World War I. Because he served in both the French and later the American air services in World War I, he is... Didier Masson (? - 1950) - French pilot In 1913, Didier Masson, alongside Gustavo Salinas Camilla, attacked a Federalist gunboat at the behest of Pancho Villas and Alvaro Obregóns rebels, during The Mexican Revolution. ... Charles Nungesser (1892-1927) was a French aviator and adventurer who is best known as a rival of Charles A. Lindbergh in the race to be first to fly non-stop between New York and Paris. ... Kiffin Rockwell was an early aviator whose major claim to fame is as the first American to shoot down an enemy aircraft. ...

Memorials

The Aviator

• A statue by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum titled The Aviator (1919) was erected on the grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia in the memory of James R. McConnell, a member of the squadron who was killed during the War. Before he was killed McConnell wrote a first-hand account of the war, Flying in France,[1] that gives the reader invaluable insight into the war in France from 1915 until his death in 1917. Letters added to the end of the book include an account of McConnell's demise.
• Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, Villeneuve Park, St. Cloud, Marnes-la-Coquette, outside of Paris, France, 1928
• Norman Prince tomb, Washington National Cathedral
• James R. McConnell. Two Memorials are located in Carthage, North Carolina. The first is a granite column flanked by two cannon, the other is a granite stone inscribed in the French language at the community house.

Photo by Einar Einarsson Kvaran Gutzon Borglum File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Photo by Einar Einarsson Kvaran Gutzon Borglum File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Mt Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota (John) Gutzon Borglum (March 25, 1867 –March 6, 1941). ... The University of Virginia (also called U.Va. ... Nickname: C-Ville Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: Country United States State Virginia County Albemarle County Founded 1762  - Mayor David E. Brown Area    - City 26. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Saint Cloud or St. ... Marnes-la-Coquette is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... Washington National Cathedral has been the site of three presidential state funerals: for Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald W. Reagan, Gerald R. Ford and a presidential burial in the cathedral: Woodrow Wilson. ... Carthage is a town located in Moore County, North Carolina. ...

Popular culture

The story of the Lafayette Escadrille has been adapted into at least two films: Lafayette Escadrille (1958), a William Wellman movie starring Tab Hunter, and Flyboys (2006), directed by Tony Bill and starring James Franco. A portion of the historical fiction novel To the Last Man by Jeffrey Shaara tells the story of the Lafayette Escadrille and Raoul Lufbery. A more complete historical fiction novel Valiant Volunteers by Terry L. Johnson (2005), tells the story of the origin of the squadron and follows two fictional characters through the point when the United States enters the war. William A. Wellman (February 29, 1896 - December 9, 1975) was a movie director. ... Hunter (left) with actor John Bromfield Arthur Andrew Kelm (born July 11, 1931, in New York City, New York) is an American actor and singer, and goes by the pseudonym Tab Hunter. ... Flyboys is a 2006 drama film set during World War I. Starring James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jean Reno, Jennifer Decker, David Ellison and Tyler Labine. ... Tony Bill (born 23 August 1940, San Diego, California) is an American actor, producer, and director. ... James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, and artist. ... For other uses, see To the Last Man (disambiguation). ... Jeffrey M. Shaara (born 1952) is an American novelist, the son of Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Shaara. ... Major Raoul Lufbery poses next to his Nieuport fighter Gervais Raoul Lufbery (March 14, 1885 – May 19, 1918) was an French-American fighter pilot and flying ace in World War I. Because he served in both the French and later the American air services in World War I, he is...

External links

• Lafayette Pilots' Memorial
• James McConnell's book, Flying in France
• History of the Escadrille
• New England Air Museum's Lafayette Escadrille Online Exhibit
• Query regarding Lafayette Escadrille & Lafayette Flying Corps
• Motivations of the Lafayette Escadrille Pilots by Guy Nasuti
• Valiant Volunteers by Terry Johnson

References

• Time Life Books, Knights of the Air (Time Life Books Aviation Series, 1996)
• Walt Brown, Jr., An American for Lafayette: The Diaries of E.C.C. Genet, Lafayette Escadrille. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1981)
• Terry L. Johnson, Valiant Volunteers, A Novel Based on the Passion and the Glory of the Lafayette Escadrille (Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse, 2005)
• Edwin W. Morse, America in the War: The Vanguard of American Volunteers in the Fighting Lines and in Humanitarian Service, August, 1914 --April, 1917. New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1919
• Jeff Shaara, To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War (New York: The Random House Publishing Group, 2004)