Everything about The Lafayette Escadrille totally explained
The
Lafayette Escadrille (from the French
Escadrille De Lafayette) was a squadron of the
French Air Service, the, during
World War I composed largely of
American volunteer pilots flying
fighters.
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, the resulting publicity would rouse interest in abandoning neutrality and joining the fight.
(In fact higher numbers of American volunteers served with the
Royal Flying Corps,
Royal Naval Air Service and
Royal Air Force during the conflict.)
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 like Sweden.
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, and ultimately their highest claiming,
flying ace with 16 confirmed victories before his squadron was transferred to the US Air Services.
Combat
The first major action seen by the squadron was at the
Battle of Verdun, being posted to the front in May 1916 until September 1916, when the unit moved to 7 Army area at
Luxeuil. The squadron, flying the
Nieuport scout, 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, many Americans thereafter serving with other French air units. Altogether, 265 American volunteers served in the Corps.
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.
Sixty-three Corps 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 deemed
flying aces, claiming 5 air kills or more. The core squadron suffered 9 losses and was credited with 41 victories.
The Escadrille had a reputation for daring, recklessness, and a party atmosphere. Two
lion cubs, named "Whiskey" and "Soda", were made squadron mascots.
Lufbery got into trouble for hitting an officer who was unwise enough 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.
On
8 February 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.
The 103rd PS claimed a further 49 kills up until November 1918.
Members
Tributes
A statue by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum titled The Aviator (1919) was erected on the grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia United States in the memory of James R. McConnell, a member of the squadron who was killed during the War. McConnell wrote a first-hand account of the war, Flying in France,(External Link
) 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-l'Étang Imperial Estate, in Marnes-la-Coquette, Hauts-de-Seine, outside of Paris, France, 1928
Norman Prince tomb, Washington National Cathedral,United States.
James R. McConnell. Two memorials are located in Carthage, North Carolina, United States. 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.
Popular culture
The story of the Lafayette Escadrille has been adapted into two films: Lafayette Escadrille (1958), a William A. Wellman movie starring Tab Hunter, and Flyboys (2006), directed by Tony Bill and starring James Franco. The Lafayette Escadrille also appears in "Attack of the Hawkmen," an episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in which Indy is temporarily assigned to the group as an aerial reconnaissance photographer.
The exploits of the Lafayette Escadrille are also captured in several works of historical fiction including: Falcons of France by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall (1929), To the Last Man by Jeffrey Shaara, Valiant Volunteers by Terry L. Johnson (2005), and An Ace Minus One by Timothy Morrisroe (2006).
Further Information
Get more info on 'Lafayette Escadrille'.
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