The Lafayette Escadrille: A Photo History of the First American Fighter Squadron
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Published in the United States of America and Great Britain in 2016 by
CASEMATE PUBLISHERS
1950 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083, USA
and
10 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford OX1 2EW, UK
Copyright 2016 © Steven A. Ruffin
Hardcover Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-350-4
Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-351-1 (epub)
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
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To the men of the Lafayette who saw peace only in death: Chapman, Rockwell, Prince, McConnell, Genet, Hoskier, Dressy, de Laage, MacMonagle, Campbell, Pavelka, Lufbery, Maison-Rouge, Doolittle, and Verdier-Fauvety.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Prologue
1 An All-American Idea Takes Shape
2 The Escadrille Américaine Is Born
3 First Blood
4 Into the Grinder
5 Season of Discontent
6 The Battle Continues
7 The Best and the Bravest
8 Misery in the Somme
9 Mac Goes West
10 The Heartbreak of Ham
11 Chaudun and Beyond
12 Hard Times at Senard
13 From Falcons of France to American Eagles
14 Aftermath
Epilogue
Appendices
Selected Bibliography
Archival Sources
Museums
FOREWORD
On April 20, 1916, seven young American airmen converged on a large grass flying field near Luxeuil, France. Arriving from various locations and a diversity of backgrounds, they were all there for the same reason: to fly for France as combat pilots. The First World War was raging all around them and since their own homeland still steadfastly maintained its neutrality, they had plunged themselves into the conflagration without any compelling reason to do so.
These seven Americans were not, strictly speaking, mercenaries. They did not volunteer their services to another country for compensation. Rather, they were there—at least, in part—because of an ideal in which they believed: the cause of freedom. France and Belgium had been invaded by a brutal enemy, intent on subjugating their citizens. As a consequence, this group of pilots—along with dozens of other American citizens who were fighting in France’s army—had deemed it their duty and a matter of honor to do as a young French nobleman had more than a century earlier. In 1777, the 20-year-old Marquis de Lafayette had traveled to America to fight with the American patriots in their struggle for independence in the Revolutionary War. It was finally time to return that favor.
The unit these founding seven pilots formed—and in which a total of 38 Americans would eventually serve—earned a place in history as the first American fighter squadron. Best remembered as the “Lafayette Escadrille,” it served the French Aéronautique Militaire with honor until February 18, 1918, when it became the 103rd Aero Squadron of the US Air Service. As such, this famed group of men, who might be considered the founding fathers of American combat aviation, formed the embryo of what would become the greatest air power ever known, the United States Air Force.
This unique photo history traces the footsteps of the 38 pilots who flew for the Lafayette Escadrille, from their first patrol to the day they became a part of the US Air Service. In so doing, it tells the story of this fabled unit in a way that words alone never could.
T. MICHAEL MOSELEY
General (Ret.) United States Air Force
18th Chief of Staff
PREFACE
As any World War I aviation enthusiast can tell you, there are dozens of excellent histories, biographies, and autobiographies dealing with the Lafayette Escadrille. There are so many, in fact, that this World War I all-American volunteer unit is, without doubt, one of the best-known fighter squadrons ever to take to the skies.
Given the preponderance of works dealing with this iconic squadron, readers may (understandably) wonder why yet another history is needed. What more could be said that has not already been written? The answer is simple: this unique photographic history of the Lafayette Escadrille—set to appear during its centennial—not only “tells,” it shows the story of this elite unit. My intent was to create a written and visual history that both World War I aviation aficionados and those with a more passing interest could appreciate. If a photograph is worth a thousand words, this book of photographs is worth a million.
To accomplish my goal, I spent an entire year gathering hundreds of black and white photographs and other documents relating to the Lafayette Escadrille from various university and museum archives in the United States and France. Fortunately, there is no shortage of images, as innumerable snapshots were made of the famed squadron—not only by the pilots themselves, but also by the constant flow of journalists and other visitors to the squadron. The resulting prints were widely reproduced and distributed among squadron members, who then passed them on to family and friends. Many copies of these old photographs still exist in collections all over the world. Although smudges, scratches, creases, and fading are standard fare for 100-year-old, multi-generation photographs, most of the images I chose for this work are of excellent quality—especially the ones I was fortunate enough to scan from original negatives. The result may well be the best photographic collection—both in terms of number and quality—available in any existing publication portraying the men, machines, and mascots of the Lafayette Escadrille.
These black and white photographs, which were the norm for that era, are fascinating and revealing to look at. They serve the singular function of recording real events involving these men and their airplanes in real time. However, another element—that of color—is also necessary for today’s readers to fully appreciate this historical experience. In order to demonstrate that World War I-era colors were, in fact, as vivid as they are now, I also included in this work numerous photographs of existing museum relics relating to the squadron. Only by seeing century-old objects—aircraft, uniforms, insignia, etc.—the way they really appeared can readers gain a truly accurate perspective.
To add yet another dimension to this work, I traveled extensively through both the United States and France to photograph existing markers and memorials honoring the men of the Lafayette Escadrille. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of these I was able to find and at how well maintained they generally were. As a bonus, I also went to great—some might say inordinate—lengths to seek out locations in France where the squadron operated, where important events occurred, and where the pilots spent their leisure time. Wherever possible, I matched the color photos I took with black and white contem
porary images of the same scene, thus creating a provocative “then and now” comparison. This work is further enhanced by aircraft profiles and artistic scenes, which are not only in brilliant full color, but are also historically accurate—again giving readers a realistic glimpse of how aircraft and events appeared during the Great War years.
One final point has to do with the potentially confusing terminology regarding the Lafayette Escadrille. Readers should understand that the squadron had several names during its existence. Its first official designation was “Escadrille N.124,” the “N” denoting that it was equipped with the Nieuport fighter. When the squadron eventually replaced its Nieuports with the new Spad VII fighter, N.124 became “SPA.124.”
Likewise, the squadron’s unofficial name also evolved. It was originally called “Escadrille Américaine,” but diplomatic expediency later forced a name change, first to “Escadrille des Volontaires,” and finally, to “Escadrille de Lafayette”—the Lafayette Escadrille. As a matter of accuracy, I used the squadron name in effect at the time of the events being described. However, readers should rest assured that N.124, SPA.124, Escadrille Américaine, Escadrille des Volontaires, and Lafayette Escadrille all refer to the same unit.
Readers should also be aware that this book focuses exclusively on the squadron known as the Lafayette Escadrille, and not the larger World War I aviation entity known as the “Lafayette Flying Corps.” The two are not the same, and to this day, there is widespread confusion between them. The Lafayette Flying Corps is a broad designation referring to all the 269 Americans who volunteered to fly for France during World War I. Of these, 38 served in the Lafayette Escadrille—the only squadron composed almost solely of Americans—while the remaining volunteers served with various other French squadrons. Hence, while all the pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille were members of the Lafayette Flying Corps, only 38 men from the Lafayette Flying Corps served in the Lafayette Escadrille.
Readers will judge for themselves whether or not this book achieved its intended purpose, but I sincerely believe they will find it to be the most complete visual history of this famous Franco-American fighter squadron ever published.
Steven A. Ruffin
April 2016
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A work containing as many parts and pieces as this cannot possibly happen without the help of many talented and dedicated individuals. My list of those to whom I am indebted is virtually endless but I feel compelled to acknowledge some of those whose efforts on my behalf were especially crucial: the editorial staff at Casemate helped make this work as good as it could possibly be; the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Working Group provided crucial support, without which, this work would not have been possible; Jerry Hester, of the US World War I Centennial Commission, was a constant source of help and encouragement; Alan Toelle and Tomasz Gronczewski teamed to produce the beautiful and historically accurate aircraft profiles that appear within—and a special thanks to Alan for his help acquiring and interpreting some of the rare photos; aviation artist Russell Smith created the artistic scenes that add color and realism; Frédéric Castier of Historical Consulting Tourism & Patrimony and Benoît Odelot, director of the Office National des Anciens Combattants et Victimes de Guerre, took time out of their busy schedules to take me to important sites and introduce me to local French historians; Patrice Platelle and Didier Trebuchet, city leaders of Grugies, France, disclosed to me historical secrets I would not otherwise have discovered—and treated me to a feast worthy of a king; Mme. Danielle Lanco, mayor of Flavy-le-Martel, France, escorted me to the beautifully maintained James McConnell memorial; Jacques Calcine helped me discover some secrets of the aerodrome at Ham; Mathilde Schneider, curator at the Musée franco-américain, Chateau de Blérancourt, graciously granted me an entire day and full reign of the museum’s extraordinary Lafayette Escadrille archives collection; Mr. Willis Haviland Lamm generously allowed me to use photographs from his magnificent Willis B. Haviland Collection; Alain Vezin, author of Escadron de chasse La Fayette, Du Nieuport au Mirage 2000N, kindly provided me with the photograph of France’s still-operational Lafayette Escadrille. Others who provided crucial support include: Alexander Blumrosen, Président de la Fondation du Mémorial de l’Escadrille La Fayette; Gen. Yvon Goux, Président des Anciens du “La Fayette” and Vice-président de la Fondation du Mémorial; Gen. T. Michael Moseley, US Air Force (Ret.); Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, US Air Force (Ret.); Maj. Gen. Rick Devereaux, US Air Force (Ret.); Maj. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, US Air Force (Ret.); Col. Terry L. Johnson, US Army (Ret.); Col. Charles E. Metrolis, US Air Force, Defense Air Attaché from the US Embassy in Paris; Lt. Col. Stephen Miller, US Air Force (Ret.); Dana Garrow; Monique B. Seefried; Peter Kilduff; Greg VanWyngarden; Dieter Gröschel; Chuck Thomas; Charles Woolley; Dr. Joseph C. Porter and Eric Blevins of the North Carolina Museum of History; Dr. Mary Elizabeth Ruwell and Dr. Charles D. Dusch Jr., US Air Force Academy McDermott Library Special Collections; the staff at the University of Virginia Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library; Dr. Forrest L. Marion and William M. Russell, Air Force Historical Research Agency; the staff at the Archives Division of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum; Diane B. Jacob, Archives and Records Management, Special Collections, Preston Library, Virginia Military Institute; and Brett Stolle of the National Museum of the US Air Force Archives. A note of special gratitude is due to Prof. Thomas E. Camden and his colleagues at Washington and Lee University Leyburn Library Special Collections. Their help and cooperation during the two full weeks I spent researching their fabulous Paul Ayres Rockwell collection was a major factor in making this work possible. And finally, my wife, Janet, who did everything possible to support me throughout the process, my daughter, Katie, who provided critical technical support, and my son, Daniel, who meticulously reviewed the manuscript. Thanks to each and every one of you.
INTRODUCTION
At sunrise on the morning of May 12, 1916, a group of five French Nieuport fighter planes took off en masse from a large open grass flying field. The aerodrome was located on the outskirts of Luxeuil-les-Bains, an ancient resort town situated in the Vosges Mountains, near the eastern border of France. Those on the ground watched as the formation disappeared into the morning mist, and they were still watching an hour or so later when the pilots of the small, open-cockpit biplanes bounced safely back onto the grass field and taxied in. When the flight leader penciled his observations into the squadron operational log, it read simply “RAS” (Rien à Signaler): nothing to report.
World War I had been raging for 21 months and the war’s newest weapon, the airplane, had already become an important instrument of military strategy. Consequently, this patrol was, by all appearances, completely routine; however, in truth, it was anything but routine. History had just been made. The five French single-seat fighters belonged to a newly formed squadron, designated N.124. Though a typical French squadron in most ways, it had one unique quality: it was composed entirely—with the exception of its two French commanders—of American volunteers. These seven young men had, for reasons of their own, decided to ignore their own country’s rigid neutrality stance—one that the United States would maintain for nearly another full year before officially entering the war—in order to come to the aid of France.
The squadron was widely referred to as the Escadrille Américaine—a name that upset leaders in the German government. Understandably, they vehemently opposed the idea of a unit composed of citizens from a neutral nation waging war against them. Because of the protests they lodged, Escadrille Américaine would undergo two politically driven name changes—first, to “Escadrille des Volontaires,” and finally, to “Escadrille de Lafayette”—the Lafayette Escadrille. As the unit winged its way to the various other hotspots along the Western Front, it blazed a path of glory and sacrifice across the skies of France. The American volunteers created a legacy and achieved a level of fame that extended far beyond their wildest dreams—their names became household words throughout the U
nited States and France. A hundred years later, this fabled band of brothers we now remember as the Lafayette Escadrille remains one of history’s best-known combat units.
A total of 38 American pilots served with the Lafayette Escadrille from its creation on April 20, 1916, until February 18, 1918, when it became the 103rd Aero Squadron of the US Air Service. Of these so-called “Valiant 38,” several would—before the November 11, 1918, Armistice finally brought hostilities to a halt—receive serious wounds in combat, three would became prisoners of war, and eleven would lose their lives.
The men who made up the Lafayette Escadrille were a highly diverse socioeconomic mix of early-20th century American culture. They ranged from wealthy scions of prominent families to uneducated vagabonds of modest means and beginnings to those who were somewhere in between. Most were—as popularly portrayed—well-heeled, educated, and idealistic East Coast Ivy Leaguers. Thirty had attended college, mostly at elite educational institutions, and several had earned degrees. They were lawyers, architects, engineers, and businessmen; but they were also sailors, men of leisure, dayworkers, and ne’er-do-well drifters. Rich and poor, educated and otherwise, they made their way to France to volunteer, first as ambulance drivers or soldiers in the French Foreign Legion, and eventually as pilots.
Some of these men came because of family ties with France or an abiding belief in the cause. Others were motivated by curiosity and a desire to be where the action was. A few of these volunteers were wanderers who simply found themselves in the wrong place at the right time. In the end, however, most sought the prospect of adventure and a chance to make a name for themselves. Regardless of pedigree and motivation, these 38 men—idealists, thrill-seeking adventurers, and itinerants, alike—lived, flew, fought, and died together as one cohesive unit.