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Maj. Raoul Lufbery, a member of the Lafayette Escadrille, transferred to the U.S. Air Service following the country's entry into the war. A famous combat flyer of the period with 17 confirmed victories with the French, he was assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron that had just arrived on the Front. His job was to train new pilots, including Eddie ...
Apr 20, 2016 · The Escadrille Americaine was a a French flying squadron largely composed of American volunteer fighter pilots. The unit was first sent into service on the front lines at Luxeuil-les-Bains (near Switzerland) on April 20, 1916.
- Lisa Rickey
With the U.S. neutral until April 1917 he enlisted with the French Foreign Legion while Pourpe joined the nascent French Air Service. Lufbery planned to apply for a transfer to the French Air Service in order that he could continue as Pourpe's mechanic; in the event Pourpe was killed while landing in fog at night on 2 December 1914.
Oct 26, 2018 · This two-day flying event of authentic and replica World War I aircraft is offered every other year by the museum and the Great War Aeroplanes Association. Gervais Raoul Lufbery was born on March 14, 1885 in Chamalières, Puy-de-Dôme, France, to an American father and French mother. He served in the United States Army from 1907 to 1909.
When the war started, Lufbery first joined the French Foreign Legion because, as an American, he was not allowed to join the regular French services. Pourpe joined the French flying service. Lufbery spent several weeks in an aircraft depot repairing aircraft until Pourpe pulled some strings and had Lufbery re-assigned as his mechanic at the front.
In 1912, he met the French aviator Marc Pourpe and became his mechanic. When World War I started, Pourpe joined the French Air Service and on August 24, 1914 Lufbery joined the French Foreign Legion. After Pourpe was killed in a crash, Lufbery decided to avenge his friend by becoming a pilot.
Lufbery spent almost four years in the French Air Service and with the Lafayette Escadrille, scoring 16 victories, before he joined the United States Air Service as an instructor in early 1918. Idolized by his subordinates and revered by his peers, he was killed in action as he attempted to bag a German Rumpler north of Nancy.
