Introduction
The Lafayette Escadrille was a squadron in the French Air Service during World War I, that was composed largely of American volunteers pilots. Edmund L. Gros, director of the American Ambulance Service, and Norman Prince, an American already flying for France, led the efforts to persuade the French government to allow a volunteer American air unit fight for France. The aim was to have their efforts recognized by America and arouse interest in abandoning neutrality and joining the fight. The French Air Department authorized the squadron on March 21, 1916 by the name, Escadrille Américaine. Not all American pilots were in Lafayette Escadrille; other American pilots fought for France as part of the Lafayette Flying Corps.
A German objection filed with the U.S. government, over the actions of a supposed neutral nation, led to the name change to Lafayette Escadrille in December 1916, as the original name implied that the U.S. was allied to France rather than neutral. The name Lafayette was taken from the Marquis de Lafayette, who had served the American rebels in their fight for revolution.
The unit's aircraft, mechanics, and uniforms were French, as well as 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. He became the highest scoring flying ace with 16 confirmed victories before the pilots of the squadron were inducted into the U.S. Air Service.
A German objection filed with the U.S. government, over the actions of a supposed neutral nation, led to the name change to Lafayette Escadrille in December 1916, as the original name implied that the U.S. was allied to France rather than neutral. The name Lafayette was taken from the Marquis de Lafayette, who had served the American rebels in their fight for revolution.
The unit's aircraft, mechanics, and uniforms were French, as well as 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. He became the highest scoring flying ace with 16 confirmed victories before the pilots of the squadron were inducted into the U.S. Air Service.
The Planes of the Escadrille
The Pilots
- Horace Clyde Balsley
- Stephen Sohier Bigelow
- Ray Claflin Bridgman
- Andrew Courtney Campbell, Jr.
- Victor Emmanuel Chapman
- Elliot Christoprer Cowdin
- Charles Heave Dolan
- James Ralph Doolittle†
- John Armstrong Drexel
- William Edward Dugan, Jr.
- Christopher William Ford
- Edmond Charles Clinton Genet
- James Norman Hall
- Bert Hall
- Willis Bradley Haviland
- Thomas Moses Hewitt, Jr.
- Dudley Lawrence Hill
- Edward Foote Hinkle
- Ronald Wood Hoskier
- Charles Chouteau Johnson
- Henry Sweet Jones
- Walter Lovell
- Raoul Lufbery
- James Rogers McConnell
- Douglas MacMonagle
- Kenneth Archibald Marr
- Didier Masson
- Edwin C. "Ted" Parsons
- Paul Pavelka†
- David M. Peterson
- Frederick Henry Prince, Jr.
- Norman Prince
- Kiffin Yates Rockwell
- Robert Lockerbie Rockwell
- Laurence Dana Rumsey, Jr.
- Robert Soubiran
- William Thaw
- Harold Buckley Willis