The centennial of the creation of the Lafayette Escadrille
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The centennial of the creation of the Lafayette Escadrille
April 20, 2016 at The Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, Marnes-La-Coquette France :
The Lafayette Escadrille Memorial commemorates the volunteer American pilots who gave their lives during World War I, under French colors, before the entry of the United States in the War. The Lafayette Escadrille became an active unit of the French Air Service on April 20, 1916, almost a full year before the US Congress declared war on April 6, 1917.
More than 250 American pilots fought with the French Air Service before the United States joined the war, either in existing squadrons with French pilots, or as one of the 38 pilots who flew in the all-American Lafayette Escadrille squadron. The Memorial commemorates the courage and the sacrifice of all these American pilots who came to France before April 1917, collectively called the “Lafayette Flying Corps”.
The 68 members of the Lafayette Escadrille and the La Fayette Flying Corps who died in WWI, or after the war as a result of their wounds, are buried in the crypt located under the central arch of the Memorial. They lie in a broad semi-circle, each under a cenotaph bearing the pilot’s name and date of death. Their French commanders, Georges Thénault et Antonin Brocard, who died respectively in 1948 and 1950, wanted to be buried with their American comrades. (text from the official website Welcome - Escadrille Lafayette)
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The Lafayette Escadrille Memorial commemorates the volunteer American pilots who gave their lives during World War I, under French colors, before the entry of the United States in the War. The Lafayette Escadrille became an active unit of the French Air Service on April 20, 1916, almost a full year before the US Congress declared war on April 6, 1917.
More than 250 American pilots fought with the French Air Service before the United States joined the war, either in existing squadrons with French pilots, or as one of the 38 pilots who flew in the all-American Lafayette Escadrille squadron. The Memorial commemorates the courage and the sacrifice of all these American pilots who came to France before April 1917, collectively called the “Lafayette Flying Corps”.
The 68 members of the Lafayette Escadrille and the La Fayette Flying Corps who died in WWI, or after the war as a result of their wounds, are buried in the crypt located under the central arch of the Memorial. They lie in a broad semi-circle, each under a cenotaph bearing the pilot’s name and date of death. Their French commanders, Georges Thénault et Antonin Brocard, who died respectively in 1948 and 1950, wanted to be buried with their American comrades. (text from the official website Welcome - Escadrille Lafayette)
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Excellent! 
Glad they are not forgotten.
Glad they are not forgotten.
Well on sunday, it was expected 95th FS / 1st FW would appear here at RAF Lakenheath alongside the Tyndall birds whch had been here for a time. So am led to believe the said units pilots would fly the Tyndall birds. Here are my photos of the final quart arriving on sunday,
I think I did see the formation leave from a distance when I was next door at the 'Hall and returned. Shame the BUFFs were not in the neighbourhood
cheers
I think I did see the formation leave from a distance when I was next door at the 'Hall and returned. Shame the BUFFs were not in the neighbourhood
cheers
Last edited by chopper2004; 21st Apr 2016 at 22:12.
Cool, Courtney - am looking forward to seeing said paint scheme fly at RIAT,
cheers
cheers
