FAMOUS SQUADRON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1939, Page 8

FAMOUS SQUADRON

11 " ON WAR FRONT AGAIN, LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE. An air squadron which achieved fame in the last war is once more on active service. Equipped with the latest of American fighting planes the Lafayette Eseadrille has been reorganised and is now doing its (lying service above the Maginot and Siegfried Lines. The squadron is composed of young French pilots who wear the distinguished Indian head insignia, originated by the first American pitots as their "escutcheon." The Indian’s headband carries a swastika, the reverse of 'he one used by the Nazis. And in their headquarters, club i room, and estnminet are to be found other souvenirs of the group of 11)0 or more Americans who first formed and'; flew the Lafayette Escadrille against! the German planes in the days of 'l4 i and 'l5. There are .American and French flags on the walls, along with I some Nazi flags, troubles of this war. I

However, the most interesting and treasured relic of the original eseadrille is an ancient bottle of Scotch whisky. This was one of the last of a case ■ f | Scotch purchased by the Americans to celebrate their aerial conquests. When one of the Curtiss planes drops out of the skies with its p'lol credited with shooting down a German plane, he is escorted to the bar. The commander carefully doles out about a teaspoonl'ul of the precious Scotch —they say it has to last for many more victory toasts —and the flier pours it down ' ■ with the traditional gulp. ! And since the start of the war it j has been uncorked more than once. : i The Eseadrille pilots were actively! | engaged first in the aerial battle of I September 30. when nine of the I squadron engaged 15 Messerschmitts bringing down five of tne enemy planes While not as fast as the Messer-j schmitt. the Curtiss is much more] manoeuvrable', and thus is at an ad-; vantage in a brisk dog light. "We expect to place orders for several more eases of whisky 500 n.." said; one pilot, confident of the future rue-’ ce-s of the Lafayette R-eadrille.