The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-09-20

became more and more freuuent a,
the importance of aerial warfare In
creased.
Side by side with Thaw was Raou
Lufbery who was the first American
mentioned for bringing down five hos
tile planes. His case was rather
unique, in that his parents died when
very young and he was brought I'D by
a family at BOurges. At thirteen he
ran away from home, his tours finally
bringing him in contact with the avfa-
tor, Marc Pourpe, who trained him to
be his assistant.
Lufbery was Of French nationality,
but when he desired to enlist in the
French army at the start Of the war
he was turned down because 1t was
discovered he was an American. At
ter many appeals he was allowed to
go with Pourpe as his mechanic
Lufbery Swears Vengeance.
Pourpe was killed soon afterward
and Lufbery swore to avenge him. He
lmportuned his superiors to allow him
to train as pilot, and his request was
finally granted and shortly after he re-
ceived his pilots certificate he was
transferred to the American flying
corps.
The fact that he was not talking
friends death is shown by the fact
that he is the premier face" of the.
Lafayette EscadrilIe. Now "wfngfng"
a machine behind the German lines
means nothing, or rather not as much
as bringing them down behind the
French lines. because the latter Is a
much more difficult feat. To bring
down five. German planes in back of |
the French lines is the necessary re-
1uisite to be termed an "ace" Luf- |
berry, who comes from New Haven, |
was the first American aviator to turn
the trick.
SO month by month as the Esca-
1rille grew, with more and more Amer
cans attracted to it by its exploits,
he number of German planes destroy
I'd by the American airmen grew in
number. Very few weeks passed but
What the Lafayette Escadrille was
mentioned in the official French com
nuniques, and there are so many or
linary feats of bravery performed ev-
Try day on the firing line that 1t re-
Iuires something above the ordinary
o break into official reports.
Thaw and then Lufbery were given
Medals of honor and several times
tied for bravery. Others followed,
he last being Sergeant Andrew Camp
ell, to whom official recognition came
tut last week, and who could safely
e called a superman from his deeds
f the past month or two.
Death Toll Heavy.
Naturally, the death toll was COM
aratively heavy. Among those who
rere rated as good fighters and who
ave their life for France were Victor,
hapman, Norman Prince, James Nc
onnell, Renald Heskier, Kenneth
and Edward Genet. Others,
owever, took their places, it being
My a month or so ago that eight
Dung Americans of prominent fam
les left for the front for service.
hey were selected from one hundred
pplicants for the service.
Such is the brief record of the La
lyette Escadrille, an organization that
as fought as Americans should. It's
cord will not be sunk in its trans
r to General Pershing's forces, for
,ntiment on the part of both Ameri-
IN and French army chiefs favor the
tention of the distinctive name.
AT present plans call for the COM
issioning Of Lieutenant Thaw as
ajor, with present members of the r
uadron being named as captains and /
to. take charge Of Ameri- e
n aviators who will shortly join Per-
ing's troops in France. .