Victor Chapman Victor S . Chapman ( April 17 , 1890 in New York – June 24 , 1916 near Douaumont ) was a French - American pilot remembered for his exploits during World War I . He was the first American pilot to die in the war . Growing up . Chapman was the son of American essayist John Jay Chapman and the nephew of US congressman William A . Chanler . His mother , Minna Timmins , died in 1898 , when he was eight . He and his father moved to France soon after . In France , Chapman obtained dual - citizen status as a French and US citizen . His father re - married , to Elizabeth Chanler , an Astor heiress , when Chapman was a teenager . Chapman returned to the United States in his late teens to attend Harvard University . After graduating , Chapman returned to Europe , spending time in France and in Germany . During this period , he became interested in architecture , becoming an expert in the field . Fighting in the war . When World War I broke out , his father and stepmother moved to London , England . However , Chapman decided to stay in France , joining the French Foreign Legion on August 30 , 1914 , and served in the 3rd March regiment of the Legion . He became friendly with four men during his days on the trenches : a Polish fighter who was known only as " Kohl " , and Americans Alan Seeger , Henry Fansworth , and David King . The trio of Americans watched as Kohl was killed by a bullet while walking with his friends . After Kohl ' s death , Chapman and two other friends , ( Norman Prince and Elliot Cowdin ) , were given an opportunity to fly in a fighter airplane . Chapman requested transfer to the Aéronautique Militaire , the army ' s air arm . He attended flight school and was certified as a pilot . Chapman flew many missions for the 1st Aviation Group and was commissioned a sergeant . He was chosen as one of the founding members of N . 124 , the Escadrille Americane , also known as the Lafayette Escadrille . On June 17 , 1916 , he was flying over the Verdun sector when he was attacked by four German airplanes . During the engagement , Chapman suffered a head wound , most likely from an attack by then four - victory German flier Walter Höhndorf . Chapman landed his airplane safely , with Höhndorf getting his fifth victory as a result . While recovering Chapman found out that his friend , Clyde Balsley had been wounded in a separate incident . Prior to his last flight Chapman put loaded oranges onto his aircraft , intending to take these to Balsley who was in hospital recuperating from his wounds . Chapman was attacked north of Douaumont by German flying ace " Leutnant " Kurt Wintgens , a close friend of Höhndorf . With Wintgens flying a Halberstadt D . II that day against Chapman ' s Nieuport 16 , Wintgen soon gained the upper hand . Chapman was killed when his airplane crashed . Awards and medals . Chapman earned many medals and commendations during his military career . Chapman was interested in the arts and in writing . He often found inspiration to write while he was in the middle of battles , and many of the letters he sent to his father were written in these circumstances . A book of these letters , called " Letters from France " , was published after his death . In his memory , the composer Charles Martin Loeffler , a friend of Chapman ' s father , composed his quartet " Music for Four Stringed Instruments " .