Myth and Memory of The Lafayette Escadrille - Michael Hankins

Even before the United States entered the war, American flyers were volunteering to fight for the Allies. In 1915, Norman Prince (a Harvard Law School graduate living in France) organized a group of American pilots called the American Escadrille – later renamed the Lafayette Escadrille after German protests of neutrality violations – to help the French military. After the United States declared war, 93 pilots from the Lafayette Escadrille joined the U.S. Army Air Service, including Major Raoul Luftberry, who became its top-ranking ace. The squadron captured the imaginations of the American public when local newspapers printed stories of their daring missions—and the antics of their lion mascots, Whiskey and Soda. This talk will delve into the stories of the men who mythologized early aviation in the Great War and explore this myth’s legacy on their remembrance.

Presentation given as part of the National WWI Museum and Memorial's 2023 Symposium Milestones & Cornerstones

For more information about the National WWI Museum and Memorial visit http://theworldwar.org