Lafayette Squad

Lafayette Squadron. It was a squadron of the French Air Service, during World War I made up largely of American volunteer pilots who fly aerial combat. It is estimated that about 300 volunteers showed up, of whom only about 209 were accepted after training, 180 serving for combat.

Summary

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• 1 History
  • 1 Members
    • 1.1 French officers
    • 1.2 American pilots
  • 2 Squad stats
• 2 Tribute
• 3 Sources

History

Lafayette Squadron Hunt

The squadron was formed in April of 1916 as the Escadrille Americaine (number 124) in Luxeuil before the entry of the US into war. Dr. Edmund L. Gros, director of the Ambulance Service of America, and Norman Príncipe, an American expat who had already flown to France , led efforts to convince the French government of the value of an air unit of American volunteers fighting for France.

The goal was for their efforts to be recognized by the American public and thus, it was hoped, the resulting publicity would spark interest in abandoning neutrality and joining the fight. Not all American pilots were in this squad, other American pilots fought for France as part of the Lafayette Flying Corps. In fact, a greater number of American volunteers served with the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service, and Royal Air Force during the conflict.

The squad was quickly transferred to Bar-le-Duc. Closer to the front. A German objection informed the US government about the action of a neutral nation, this leads to a name change in December . The original name implied that the United States sided with France , when in reality it was neutral.

The planes, their mechanics, and the uniforms were French, as was the commander. Five French pilots were also on the list, serving repeatedly. Raoul Lufbery an American born French, became the first and ultimately made aviation squad with 16 confirmed victories before his squad was transferred to the US Air Services.

Ironically, more Americans served in the British Royal Air Force than in the Lafayette Squadron. Finally, the 8 as February as 1918 , the squadron was transferred to the US Army Air Service. The insignia of the squad was an Indian head, and the mascots were two lions, bought from a traveling circus, which were called “Whiskey” and “Soda”.

Members

Members of the Lafayette Squad

There is some confusion among the pilots who were part of the Lafayette Squadron or the Lafayette Flying Corps, especially in the movie Flyboys. These five French officers and 38 American pilots (also known as “The Valiant 38”) were part of the Lafayette Squadron.

French officers

• Captain Georges Thenault
• Lieutenant Alfred de Laage de Meux
• Lieutenant Charles Nungesser
• Lieutenant Antonio Arnoux de Maison-Rouge
• Lieutenant Louis Verdier-Fauvety

American pilots

• Horace Clyde Balsley
• Stephen Sohier Bigelow
• Ray Claflin Bridgman
• Andrew Courtney Campbell, Jr., died in service
• Victor Manuel Chapman ( 1890 – 1916 ), the first American aviator to be killed in World War I.
• Elliot Christoprer Cowdin
• Heave Charles Dolan
• James Ralph Doolittle, died in service
• John Armstrong Drexel
• William Edward Dugan, Jr.
• Christopher William Ford
• Edmond Charles Clinton Genet, the first American aviator to die, after the United States declared war against Germany .
• James Norman Hall ( 1887 – 1951 ), co-author of Mutiny on the Bounty and Falcons of France about the Lafayette Squadron
• Bert Hall (1885-1948) (Lt.), Film director, actor, author who wrote two books about being a “Flyboy” in the Lafayette
• Willis Haviland Bradley
• Moses, Thomas Hewitt, Jr.
• Dudley Lawrence Hill
• Edward Foote Hinkle
• Ronald Wood Hoskier, died in service
• Chouteau Charles Johnson
• Henry Sweet Jones
• Walter lovell
• Raoul Lufbery ( 1885 – 1918 ), an ace who died in combat after jumping off the tail of his burning match.
• James Rogers McConnell (1887- 1917 )
• MacManagle Dougles
• Kenneth Marr Archibald
• Pierre Masson Diddier Didier Masson
• Edwin C. “Ted” Parsons
• Paul Pavelka, died in service
• Peterson, David McKelvy
• Frederick Henry Prince, Jr. (1885- 1963 )
• Norman Prince (1887-1916), founder and ace
• Kiffin Rockwell Vates, died in service
• Robert Lockerbie Rockwell
• Laurence Dana Rumsey, Jr.
• Robert Soubiran
• William Thaw
• Harold Buckley Willis (SGT)

Squad stats

63 dead, 51 in action.

159 confirmed kills.

31 war crosses.

7 individual military medals.

4 Legions of Honor.

11 of its members acquired the title of “Ace”.

They suffered 9 defeats and 41 victories.

Tribute

Work and documentaries have been made about the Lafayette Squad, the most recognized is in the cinema, we can see its history in:

• The Adventures of Indiana Jones , in the chapter titled: Attack of the Falcon Men.
• Lafayette Escadrille 1958 directed by William. A. Wellamn
• Flyboys 2006 Tony Bill.