Lafayette Escadrille

Average age: 26 (ages 20 to 40)

Sons of millionaires: 11

Some college or a degree: 30

Harvard alumni: 9

Prewar flying experience: 9

Life expectancy for a pilot on the western front: 3-6 weeks

• Eugene Bullard, the only black pilot, kept a pet monkey in his suit during missions.

• Pilots didn't have the benefit of a parachute. An aviator's only option after being hit was to land the aircraft. Many pilots decided to jump to their deaths rather than burn in a flaming cockpit.

Raoul Lufbery

Many of the pilots who served in the Lafayette Escadrille had colorful pasts. Raoul Lufbery, the top ranking ace, was an American with French parents. He served with the U.S. Army in the Philippines and later became an airplane mechanic. His skills landed him a job with barnstormers who toured India, China and Egypt. The outbreak of WWI, in 1914, motivated Lufbery to join the Foreign Legion and later the Air Corps as a mechanic. Within a year he completed pilot training. He began his flying service with bombing sorties. Lufbery was responsible for training many American pilots, including Eddie Rickenbacker, the top U.S. ace. Lufbery was shot down in 1918 and jumped to his death from his burning plane.

Top aces, victories

France: Rene Fonck, 75

Germany: Manfred von Richthofen, 80

Canada: Billy Bishop, 72

United States: Eddie Rickenbacker, 26

Great Britain: Edward Mannock, 61