F32-033 LAFAYETTE ESADRILLE FLYING ACE WWI FIGURES

Escadrille Lafayette (fr. Escadrille de La Fayette) is a fighter squadron of the French Air Force during the Great War (1914-1918) composed of volunteers who are US citizens. Of course, the name of the unit vividly refers to the French hero of the war for the non-collapse of the United States, i.e. the Marquis Marie-Jospeh de La Fayette. The unit was formed, with the approval of the government of the French Republic in 1916, on the initiative of Edmund Gros and Norman Prince. It is worth adding that both the pilots and the squadron mechanics were equipped in accordance with French regulations, and the commanders themselves came from the French air force (fr. Aeronautique Militaire). The first, more serious combat action Escadrille Lafayette there were air fights in the Verdun area in mid-May 1916. It is worth adding that many great pilots flew in the squadron, including, among others: Paul Baer (the first fighter ace of American aviation) or Gervais Raoul Lufbery (hunting ace decorated between the Legion of Honor and the War Cross). Charles Nungesser was temporarily in command of the unit - One of the best French World War I fighter aces with confirmed i43 air victories. There were 11 hunting aces in the unit! Quite in passing, it can be noted that the mascots Escadrille Lafayette were two lion cubs with the picturesque names of Whiskey and Soda.French Air Force (current French name: Armee de l'air) is historically the first air force in the world, which began to form as early as 1909, and officially became part of the ground forces in 1912 under the name Aeronautique Militaire. At the time of the outbreak of World War I, the French air force already numbered 148 aircraft, mainly reconnaissance, reconnaissance and liaison machines. In the years 1914-1918, as in Germany and Great Britain, French aviation underwent a very rapid development - both quantitative and qualitative. During this period, "specialized" fighter planes with machine weapons (eg Nieuport 11 or Nieuport 16) and bomber planes (eg Caudron G.4) appeared. The intensive development of French aviation was possible thanks to a solid industrial base and companies such as Nieuport or Caudron, but also Bleriot, Breguet and Hanriot. As a result of this development, in 1918 the French air force had about 3,600 aircraft in the line. Throughout the war, approximately 17,300 pilots and flight crew members were involved in combat operations, of which approximately 5,500 were killed.