Bridgewater Review

Volume 5 | Issue 1 Article 8

Jun-1987 New England Pilots in the William F. Hanna

Recommended Citation Hanna, William F. (1987). New England Pilots in the Lafayette Flying Corps. Bridgewater Review, 5(1), 10-13. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol5/iss1/8

This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Essay

New England Pilots In The Lafayette Flying Corps

by William F. Hanna

he Lafayette Flying Corps was the name given to a of T American pilots who flew with the French Air Service during World War 1. More than 200 Americans became expatriates, for a time at least, in order to try to qualify to fly the latest French fighter planes against the Ger­ mans. By war's end the 180 who suc­ ceeded were serving in 93 French ­ rons. Although most later transferred to the U.S. Air Service, it was their days in the Lafayette Flying Corps­ and its most elite , the Lafay­ ette -which recalled the fond­ est memories among survivors. From the beginning the Lafayette pilots were seen as something special. Even as the war continued, foreign correspondents filed storiesfrom remote French airfields which portrayed these pilots as knights of the air, daredevil Lancelots who laughed in the face of death as they fought the sinister Hun. This glorification escalated in the two decades after the war, a period which saw the rapid growth of both the in the uniform of the u.s. Aero Service shortly before aviation and motion picture industries, his death is 1918. (Photo; U.S. Corps, National Archives) as well as new threats from Germany. By the eve of the Second World War wrote. "Some sought adventure, others American pilots in the Service Aero­ the Lafayette men had become the stuff revenge, while a pitiful few actually nautique. After months of delay and of folklore. sacrificed themselves in the spirit of frustration the efforts of Prince and Ofthe 180 Americans who flew with purest idealism." others were rewarded when the Lafay­ the Lafayette, 30 had lived all or part of While it seems certain that all three ette Escadrille was born. their lives in New England. An ofthe elements mentioned by Parsons­ Oliver M. Chadwick, ofLowell, Massa­ examination of their careers will show adventure, revenge, idealism-motivated chusetts, was just 25 years old when he that, although they did share certain every Lafayette pilot at some time, enlisted in the attributes like courage, self-confidence certain fliers do stand out as good inJanuary, 1917. A graduate ofPhillips and love of adventure, they were in­ examples ofeach. For instance, Norman Exeter Academy and Harvard College, deed a mixed crew, difficult to classify Prince, of Prides Crossing, Massa­ he had trained as a lawyer at Harvard and largely indifferent to the glamour chusetts, was certainly an idealist. Thir­ Law School and was beginning life as a of knighthood. teen ofthe 30 New England pilots were promising young attorney when the Ofthese 30 New England pilots who college men, and Prince was one of 9 war broke out. Moved by what he saw joined the Lafayette Flying Corps, who had attended Harvard. When war as the heroic struggle of the Allies, almost two-thirds were at the Front in broke out in he was a success­ Chadwick walked away from his legal some capacity before America entered ful Chicago lawyer with every expec­ practice and went to Canada to offer the war in April, 1917. Fourteen were tation of a long and rewarding legal his services. Rejected because of his already flying for the French and sev­ career. Yet Prince was fascinated by the American citizenship, he returned to eral others were members ofthe French struggle taking place overseas and de­ the States and enlisted in the Massa­ Foreign Legion or the American Ambu­ cided to play his part in it. He began by chusetts . After a four lance Field Service. taking flying lessons at his own expense month tour ofduty in Mexico, he, like Edwin C. Parsons, of Springfield, and under an assumed name. Since his Norman Prince, learned how to fly an Massachusetts, as one of the last sur­ grandfather had once been mayor of airplane and then sailed for . viving members of the Lafayette, was Boston, young Prince wanted to avoid After a short stint in the Foreign asked what had prompted Americans notoriety. He was 28 years old in Legion he waG accepted by the French to join a war in which their country was January, 1915, when he sailed for Air Service. not yet involved. "Motives were as Europe, hoping to persuade the French Another idealist in the Prince­ varied as the men themselves," he government to accept a squadron of Chadwick mold was Harold Buckley 10 Willis, of Boston, a 1912 graduate of Harvard College who had trained as an architect. After spending two years in the Massachusetts National Guard, Willis enlisted in the American Ambu­ lance Field Service in February, 1915, and six months later was cited for his rescue of wounded while under fire. Willis was awarded the with Star, but by this time he had been accepted by French Aviation and was on his way to becoming one ofthe most famous pilots of the Lafayette Esca­ drille. Along with the idealists, New England certainly sent its share of adventurers to the Lafayette Flying Corps. Two such men were Herman Chatkoff and Frank Baylies. Chatkoff had made his way from his home in Maplewood, Massachusetts to Brooklyn. In August, 1914, he left his car washing job and went to France to enlist in the Foreign Legion. When asked about his pre­ vious service, Chatkoffreplied that he was a veteran offive years with the Salvation Army. A dark, brooding man, his murderous temper suited him well for trench warfare on the Western "J. Front, where he served as a rifleman for Left: Frank Baylies and Ted Parsons served together in Les Cigones, one of almost two years before entering the the finest French fighter Squadrons. Right: David Putman succeeded Lafayette Flying Corps in 1916. E. Baylies as the American "Ace" until his own death in September 1918. Frank Baylies represented the other (Photo: National Archives) side of the coin. The mild-mannered son of a successful New Bedford busi­ Phillips Exeter Academy who had drop­ the Foreign Legion in Novermber, nessman, Baylies graduated from the ped out of the University of Penn­ 1914, and was bayonetted during hand­ Moses Brown Preparatory School in sylvania. After completing pilot train­ to-hand fighting in June, 1915. He Providence and then went to work for ing in the U.S., Parsons had gone to transferred to the French Air Service his father. He was one of a few young Mexico in 1913 to try to teach Pancho the following December and became a men of his time who could drive an Villa's men how to fly airplanes. In member of the in automobile, and he was a familiar sight December, 1915, he sailed for France August, 1916. as he piloted the family car through the as a member ofthe Ambulance Service. While Norman Prince fought for his narrow streets of New Bedford. The He was with this group for four months ideals, and Paul Pavelka sought adven­ story goes that Baylies became fasci­ before being accepted by French Avia­ ture, Raoul Lufbery wanted only ven­ nated by reports of the heroism of tion, which assigned him to the Lafay­ geance. Born in France of French par­ American ambulance drivers on the ette Escardrille in January, 1917. ents in 1885, Lufbery saw his mother Western Front, and in February 1916, Another adventurer was Paul Pavelka, die and his father emigrate to Walling­ at the age of20 and against his parents' a poor boy who had run away from the ford, Connecticut. The boy was left in wishes, he sailed for France to join family farm in Madison, Connecticut the care of his grandmother and was them. Fifteen months later, after sur­ when he was only 14 years old. The put to work in a chocolate factory. He viving heavy fighting on both the West­ youth had gone west, and at one time faithfully sent his wages to his father in ern and Eastern Fronts, and after having or another had worked as a cowboy, a Connecticut and, at age 19, finally been awarded the Croix de Guerre for cook in a sheep camp, and a nurse. decided to join the old man in America. valor under fire, Baylies was accepted While still a boy he had gone to sea and After circuitously traveling through­ into the Lafayette Flying Corps. had once walked across the South out much ofEurope and North , One of Frank Baylies' closest war­ American continent after his ship was he finally arrived in Wallingford in time friends was Ted Parsons. This wrecked. Forever after called "Skip­ 1906, only to find that his father had Springfield native was a graduate of per" by his friends, Pavelka enlisted in sailed to Europe a short time before! 11 New England Pilots continued

Left: A French fighter heads for base in the setting sun. (Photo: The Lafayette Flying Corps, ed. by James Hall and , Boston, 1920) Right: A rare combat action photo shows this German Fokker E-III diving for the attack from behind. (Photo: u.s. ) The boy waited in Wallingford for "ace ofaces." When he joined the Air French Air Service in May, 1917. nearly two years, but his father never Service after Pourpe's death, Lufbery's Like Lufbery and Baylies, Putnam appeared. Indeed, they were never to instructors doubted he would make was fearless in combat and sometimes see each other again. much ofa pilot.He seemed clumsy and took what appeared to be hopeless On the road once more, Lufbery inept, and at first he was recommended chances. On one occasion, for exam­ went to San Francisco, spent two years to fly slower, more cumbersome, but ple, he single-handedly attacked 18 as a soldier in the Philippines, then less technically demanding bomb­ German planes, shot down the leader traveled throughout India and the Far ers. His career recovered quickly, and escaped unharmed. On June 5, East. In 1912 while in Saigon he met however, for after joining the Lafayette 1918, during the second Battle of the , a noted French aviator Escadrille in May, 1916, he shot down Marne, Putnam shot down 5 German who was giving flying demonstrations. 3 German planes in one week, and planes in 5 minutes. He had destroyed The two young men struck up a friend­ thereafter his name became famous 11 enemy planes before he was 20 ship, and the following months were among American newspaper readers. years old. the happiest of Raoul Lufbery's life as Early is 1918 Lufbery accepted a The New England aces accounted for he and Pourpe toured the Far East transfer into the U.S. Air Service with the destruction of at least 40 enemy together. the rank ofMajor. After a short stint as aircraft. Twelve other New England In the summer of 1914 they re­ a desk jockey he was back in the pilots were credited with shooting turned to France to prepare for yet cockpit as the of the 94th down a total of 20 German planes. another trip to the Orient, but were and 95th Aero Pursuit Squadrons. Norman Prince had 3, as did Sereno caught up instead by the war. Pourpe New England's second ace was Frank Jacob of Westport, Connecticut and enlisted in the Air Service and Lufbery Baylies. He was a member ofLes Cigones, George Turnure of Lenox, Massa­ signed on as his mechanic. Three The Storks, one ofFrance's most illus­ chusetts. Walter Rheno, of Vineyard months later Pourpe was shot down trious flying groups. When, in Novem­ Haven, bagged 2, as did William A. and killed, and the Germans thereby ber 1917, he joined this hard-nosed Wellman of Cambridge, while seven earned one of their most formidable squadron on the Flanders Front, he pilots each shot down 1 German plane. enemies in Raoul Lufbery who swore remembered that as a boy in New Any student of avia­ to avenge his friend's death. Bedford he had been ashamed of him­ tion must be impressed by what a In its career the Lafayette Flying self for shooting at birds in the forest. deadly business it was. Although small Corps was officially credited with shoot­ Ironically, throughout the rest of that and frail, the fighter planes routinely ing down 199 German planes. Sixty of winter and into the following spring cruised at altitudes approaching those victories were claimed by 15 and summer Baylies became one ofthe 20,000 feet. Patrols, usually consisting New England pilots, three of whom most relentless of Allied hunters. ofsquadrons of 3 or 4 airplanes flying became well known aces. Under the As Les Cigones moved south along in formation, would range high over rules of the Service Aeronautique an ace theWestern Front, he claimed 12 con­ enemy lines searching for their German had to have shot down 5 enemy planes. firmed kills and several more counterparts. Once engaged, the fight­ In order for these victories to be con­ unconfirmed. ers would break formation and dive to firmed, the enemy aircraft had to come The third New England ace was an altitude below 10,000 feet, where down behind French lines, or the crash David E. Putnam, of Brookline. After most air battles were fought. Reaching had to be witnessed by four indepen­ leaving Harvard in his sophomore year, speeds which approached 120 miles dent observers. Putnam attempted to join the U.S. Air per hour, the fighter pilot would try to Raoul Lufbery, with 17 confirmed Service but was rejected because of his position his own plane behind the tail victories and many more unconfirmed, youth. He then sailed for France ofthe enemy, and in a burst ofmachine became the Lafayette Flying Corps' aboard a cattle ship and enlisted in the gun fire shoot him from the sky. The 12 killing range of the machine guns was experienced combat pilot and La­ tion. He was at the Front for about only 60 to 90 yards, so sudden and fayette Escadrille veteran. Baylies and three months and in that time shot violent death from bullets, incinera­ Parsons often flew together, and on down 2 German planes. After the war tion or mid-air collision was always a June 17, 1918 Parsons watched in the Wellman became a successful Holly­ possibility. distance as Baylies' plane crashed in wood producer and director. He won A pilot's time at the Front was flames. Baylies, 21 years old, was dead an Academy Award in 1926 for his usually measured in weeks or months after just seven months at the Front. classic aviation film Wings. In 1958 he rather than in years. The Lafayette David Putnam, "ace" successor to directed a Warner Brothers film en­ Flying Corps lost 55 pilots killed in Lufbery and Baylies, had accepted a titled The Lafayette Escadrille, which action, including 6 New Englanders. transfer to the 134th Squadron of the portrayed the American pilots as rousta­ Three other New Englanders were killed U.S. Air Service. He too was killed in bout playboys. This movie attracted in the line ofduty or died as a result of action, on September 13, 1918, two the wrath of Ted Parsons, Charles H. the war. months short of the Armistice and Dolan and other former Escadrille mem­ Norman Prince was the first casu­ three months shy of his twentieth bers. Wellman, feeling the sting of alty. After taking part in 122 aerial birthday. their criticism, later admitted that he engagements over 15 months, he was Of course most of the Lafayette felt "terribly ashamed" of the film. killed returning from a night mission Flying Corps boys made it home safely, It is interesting that Wellman when his plane crashed into a high and a few New Englanders even gained clashed with Charles Dolan, because tension wire hidden by the darkness. prominence after the war. Ted Parsons, this last surviving member of the La­ for example, finished the war with 8 fayette Escadrille was an appropriate Oliver Chadwick, the young Har­ victories. After the Armistice he en­ representative of so many of the New vard lawyer who had learned to fly tered the U.S. and finally retired Englanders who flew for France. One back in the States so as to be better with the rank of rear admiral. ofDolan's grandfathers had lost a leg in prepared to fight the Germans, was Harold B. Willis had been shot down the Civil War and the other had been killed in action on August 14, 1917. and captured in August, 1917. After 3 killed with Custer. Before enlisting He had been at the Front for only 18 unsuccessful attempts, he escaped Dolan had studied electrical engineer­ days. across the border to Switzerland and ing at M.LT. Only one German plane Paul Pavelka served with the La­ arrived in in time to toast the had fallen under his guns, but he had fayette Escadrille for about six months Armistice with his Lafayette friends. been at the front for eighteen months, a before being transferred to the Eastern After the war he lived in Boston and long time for such a hazardous duty. Front. An expert at night fighting and was among the leaders of an effort to Dolan's last service was rendered in an adventurous lad, he was assigned to organize a second Lafayette Escadrille July, 1967, when, as its only surviving an escadrille in front of Salonica. On for service in World War II. member, he represented the Lafayette November 12, 1917, while off-duty, Herman Chatkoff gained notoriety Escadrille at the dedication ofits monu­ he was accidentally killed when a caval­ of a different sort. He had been at the ment at Luxeuill. D ry horse which he was riding fell on top Front for a little over a month when he of him. was critically hurt in an airplane crash On May 19, 1918 the American while showing off for his friends. He "ace of aces," Raoul Lufbery, calmly spent the rest of the war in a French stepped away from his burning plane hospital and later, after the Armistice, high over the small French town of was confined to a mental institution. Maron. He died in a flower garden Neither the French nor the American below, thus keeping his promise that government would take responsibility he would never burn to death in a for Chatkoff, and in the words of one crippled plane. Lufbery's death turned writer, he lived for 13 years as a man public attention toward Frank Baylies, without a country. This sad spectacle the new "ace of aces," who did not was finally ended in 1931 when Presi­ appreciate the constant requests for dent Hoover signed a bill granting interviews, photographs, autographs, Chatkoff $100 per month and per­ William F. Hanna received a Bach­ etc. He was, he confessed, "embar­ petual care in a Veterans Adminis­ elor of Arts degree from Southeastern rassed as the dickens" by all the fuss. tration hospital. Massachusetts University, a Master He found the new demands placed Two other New Englanders who ofArts degree from Bridgewater State upon him to be an "awful nuisance." served with the Lafayette deserving of College. He is presently a U.S. His­ Baylies had decided against trans­ mention are William A. Wellman and tory teacher at Taunton High School ferring to the U.S. Air Service and Charles H. Dolan. After leaving his and has also served as a visiting intended to finish out the war as a Cambridge home Wellman joined the lecturer in History at Bridgewater member of Les Cigones. He had been American Ambulance Service and in State College. joined by Ted Parsons, by now an June, 1917, enlisted in French Avia- 13