Lafayette Escadrille

Members of Lafayette Escadrille 

The Lafayette Escadrille was a French Air Service unit composed mostly of American pilot volunteers who fought for France in World War 1. Officially named as Escadrille de Chasse Nieuport 124, this brainchild of Dr. Edmund L. Gros, founder of American Hospital Of Paris and organizer of American Ambulance Field Service and Norman Prince, a Harvard-educated lawyer and American expatriate already flying for France became a reality on April 20, 1916.

Originally, the plan was for the squadron to gain publicity and sympathy and hope that the Americans gain interest in abandoning neutrality and join in the fight. Everything was French, from uniform to the ground crew including their commander Captain George Thenault and five more pilots. The first Americans included in the squadron were Victor E. Chapman, Elliott C. Cowdin, Weston Hall, James R. McConnell, Norman Prince, Kiffin Rockwell and William Thaw. Unofficial members were two lion cubs named Whiskey and Soda.

The squadron was first deployed on April 20 in Luxeuil-les-Bains, France and first saw action on May 13, 1916 at the Battle of Verdun. Five days later the squadron recorded their first aerial victory. Flying his Neuport 11, Kiffin Rockwell flew within 75 feet before firing at a two seater LVG observation plane hitting the pilot, observer and the engine with only four bullets. Rockwell was killed in action on September 23 by a gunner from a German Albatross observation plane. Raoul Lufbery, a French-born American citizen became the squadron’s first and ultimately their highest scoring flying ace with 16 confirmed victories. On October 12, 1916 Norman Prince was an escort on a bombing mission to Mauser rifle works at Oberndorf, Germany during which he shot down an enemy plane. Returning to base, his plane hit telegraph cables and crashed. Prince died three days later.

From April 1916 to February 1918, Lafayette Escadrille flew a total of 3,000 sorties and had 40 confirmed victories and 100 probable victories. The unit suffered heavy losses, but it received replacements until a total of 38 Americans eventually served with the squadron. They had a total of 9 casualties. On February 8, 1918 the squadron was disbanded.     

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