Lafayette Escadrille

They were a group of young Americans looking for a way to contribute to the French war effort. Many were former members of the Foreign Legion or the American Ambulance Service, and a few were already serving as pilots in the French Air Corps. They seemed to embody the romantic image of a war of chivalry coupled with living the high life. This would become the trademark of the Lafayette Escadrille, which is portrayed in the current movie "Flyboys."

Origin

1916

The Escadrille American was established in April 1916. It was the brainchild of Dr. Edmund L. Gross (American Ambulance Service) and Norman Prince (French Air Corps). They persuaded the French government to form a volunteer American squadron in an effort to rouse interest in the European conflict. At this point, the United States was still a neutral nation and would not enter the conflict until April 6, 1917. The name of the American squadron — "Escadrille American" — so offended the Germans that a formal complaint was filed with the then-neutral U.S. government in December. It was soon changed to the "Lafayette Escadrille."* The original unit was commanded by Capt. George Thenault (French) and was composed of seven American pilots — Victor Chapman, Elliot Cowdin, Bert Hall, James McConnell, Norman Prince, Kiffin Rockwell and William Thaw. The unit would last for 20 months, and eventually the squadron would be assimilated into the U.S. Army's 103rd Pursuit Squadron.

*Lafayette was the French general who served with the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Deseret Morning News graphic Aircraft Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Slang

Archie: antiaircraft fire

Sausages: observation balloons

Flaming onions: antiaircraft flack protection for observation balloons

Joy stick: aircraft control

Dogfight: shoot-out between two aircraft

The mystic

The Lafayette Escadrille would be known for its country-club lifestyle. Poker and dice games were said to be common. The headquarters at Cachy, near the Somme, had a reputation for its fine cuisine provided by a French chef who once worked at the New York Ritz. A gramophone would play an incessant combination of ragtime, fox-trot, operas and Hawaiian music. The unit's mascots, a pair of lion cubs, Whiskey and Soda, roamed the airfield.

Facts

Lafayette Escadrille

Commander: Capt. George Thenault

Total squadron victories: 57

Top ace: Raoul Lufbery (17 victories)

French pilots in the squadron: 5

First victory: Kiffin Rockwell (May 13, 1916)

First fatality: Norman Prince (June 23, 1916)

Deseret Morning News graphic Uniforms Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Squadron makeup

Original volunteers: 38

Previous service to France: 28 (seven as pilots)

Eastern states natives: 23

New Yorkers: 9