The corps of American fliers was formed in April 1916, at first under the name the Escadrille Americaine (AEF), but after the German ambassador complained about so partisan an involvement, the name was changed to the Lafayette Escadrille, after the French naval hero who fought with Washington.
www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/airplane%2... www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/airplane%20at%20war/Lafayette%20Escadrille.htm
It was renamed the Lafayette Escadrille in December of the same year in honor of the French hero's service in the American Revolution, and the outfit saw much frontline action ... Sep 29, 2006; Byline: Jane Mcbride Sep. 29--The Lafayette Escadrille, formed in April, 1916, was first called Escadrille Americaine. Because...
www.reference.com/browse/lafayette+escadrille www.reference.com/browse/lafayette+escadrille
The Lafayette Escadrille was formed in April 20, 1916 – a year before the US joined the war and two years before the first American raised squadrons of the United States Air Service managed their way into combat.
www.usaww1.com/Lafayette_Escadrille.php4 www.usaww1.com/Lafayette_Escadrille.php4
The Lafayette Escadrille ... Some of these men suggested they sent to the Front as a squadron (escadrille) composed of American rather than French pilots. After months of deliberation by the French Government, the Escadrille Americaine, N.124, was formed and, on April 20, 1916, placed on front-line duty at Luxeuil-les...
www.aerofiles.com/lafayesc.html
Lafayette Escadrille - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Lafayette Escadrille (from the French Escadrille de Lafayette ), was a squadron of the French Air Service, the Aéronautique militaire , during World War I composed largely of American volunt...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette_Escadrille
Escadrille Lafayette, American Volunteer Pilots in WWI ... In February, 1918, the Lafayette Escadrille was absorbed into the U.S. forces as the 103rd Pursuit Squadron. (Many Americans flew with other French units; in general, these volunteers were called the Lafayette Flying Corps.)
www.acepilots.com/wwi/lafayette.html www.acepilots.com/wwi/lafayette.html
These young volunteers, especially of the Lafayette Escadrille, were motivated by a longing to get out of the horrors of the trenches, the innovativeness of flight coupled with a romantic sense of adventure, and revenge.
www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/articles/lafayetteesc... www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/articles/lafayetteescadrille.aspx
The Lafayette Escadrille; Over Verdun ... An enduring legend of the Great War is of the contribution made by American aviators of the Lafayette Escadrille at the Battle of Verdun. Here is a firsthand account from one of the participants.
www.worldwar1.com/heritage/le_verdun.htm
First World War.com - A multimedia history of world war one ... Following German protests over the naming of the squadron - the U.S. remained neutral for a further year - it was renamed Escadrille Lafayette in December 1916 (after the Frenchman who served alongside George Washington).
www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/lafayetteescadrille.htm www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/lafayetteescadrille.htm
All told, 260 Americans joined the French Air Service (38 in the Escadrille). Out of those, 181 served in front-line units, 25 died in action and 96 eventually transferred to U.S. units once America entered the war -- a year after the Lafayette Escadrille was formed.
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/918890/posts