Raoul Lufbery facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gervais Raoul Victor Lufbery
Gervais Raoul Lufbery, 1918
Born	March 14, 1885 Chamalières, France
Died	May 19, 1918(1918-05-19) (aged 33) Maron, France
Buried	Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, Marnes-la-Coquette, Île-de-France, France
Allegiance	France  United States
Service/branch	Aéronautique Militaire (France) Air Service, United States Army
Years of service	1907–1909; 1914–1918
Rank	Major
Unit	Aéronautique Militaire Escadrille VB.106 Escadrille N.124 (Lafayette Escadrille) Air Service, United States Army 94th Aero Squadron
Commands held	94th Aero Squadron
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Légion d'honneur, Médaille militaire, Croix de guerre, British Military Medal

Gervais Raoul Victor Lufbery (born March 14, 1885 – died May 19, 1918) was a brave fighter pilot during World War I. He was known as a "flying ace" because he shot down many enemy planes. Raoul Lufbery served with both the French Air Force and later the United States Army Air Service. This means he is sometimes called a French ace and sometimes an American ace. Most of his 17 confirmed victories happened while he was flying for France.

Raoul Lufbery's Early Life

Raoul Lufbery was born in Chamalières, France, on March 14, 1885. His father was American, and his mother was French. When Raoul was just one year old, his mother passed away. His father then moved back to the United States. Raoul was raised in France by his grandmother.

He worked in chocolate factories in France until he was 19. At that age, he decided to travel the world. He visited many places like Egypt, Algeria, and Turkey. In 1906, he traveled to the United States to find his father. He stayed with relatives in Wallingford, Connecticut, for two years. There, he worked in a factory that made silver-plated items.

Joining the Military

From 1907 to 1909, Lufbery served in the United States Army. He was a rifleman and was stationed in places like the Philippines and Hawaii. After leaving the U.S. Army, he continued his travels. He visited countries like India, Japan, and China.

In 1912, Lufbery went to French Indochina (now Vietnam). There, he met a French aviation (flying) pioneer named Marc Pourpe. Lufbery got a job as a mechanic for Pourpe. When World War I began, Pourpe joined the French Air Force. Lufbery joined the French Foreign Legion and later became a mechanic for the French Air Force too. When Pourpe died in a plane crash, Lufbery wanted to become a pilot himself. He wanted to get revenge for his friend.

Becoming a Pilot

In late 1914, Raoul Lufbery was accepted into pilot training. He first flew reconnaissance missions. These missions involved flying over enemy territory to gather information. Later, he wanted to fly fighter planes. He trained on the Nieuport aircraft.

Lufbery was not a naturally talented pilot. However, he worked very hard and paid close attention to his plane's mechanics. He often helped the mechanics work on his aircraft. He also carefully checked and polished each bullet for his gun. This helped prevent his gun from jamming, which was a common problem with the Lewis gun. His dedication helped him become a successful pilot.

The Lafayette Escadrille

In 1916, a group of American volunteers formed a special squadron. It was first called the Escadrille Américaine. Later, it was renamed N-124 Escadrille Lafayette, also known as the Lafayette Escadrille. This group helped France fight against Germany. The squadron was renamed because the United States wanted to stay neutral in the war. Most of the pilots in this squadron were wealthy Americans with little flying experience.

Lufbery, who was an American citizen and had experience with airplanes, joined the unit on May 24, 1916. He was given a Nieuport fighter plane. At first, Lufbery didn't fit in well with his new comrades. He spoke English with a strong French accent. Also, most of the other pilots came from rich families and had gone to fancy universities. But once they saw him in combat, his strong will and success earned him their respect.

His first victory was on July 30, 1916, near Verdun. By October 12, 1916, he had shot down five enemy planes. This made him a "flying ace" and he was promoted. During this time, a famous flying move called the "Lufbery circle" was named after him. Many experts believe Lufbery didn't invent the move. However, he made it very popular among Allied pilots.

Lufbery also helped create a safer way for planes to land at airfields. Before him, planes would land from any direction, which caused confusion and sometimes crashes. Lufbery, who was a commander, told all planes to circle the airfield at least twice before landing. This allowed pilots to see other planes taking off or landing. This idea eventually led to the standard airport landing patterns pilots use today.

Serving the United States

In late 1917, Lufbery joined the United States Army Air Service. He was given the rank of Major. By this time, he had claimed 16 air victories. Most of these were solo victories, meaning he shot down the planes by himself. He also shared a few victories with other aces.

In the spring of 1918, Lufbery was chosen to lead a new group called the 94th Aero Squadron. His main job was to teach new pilots, like Eddie Rickenbacker, how to fight in the air. The 94th Squadron used Nieuport 28 fighters. However, they often had problems getting enough weapons. On their first combat patrol on March 6, 1918, Lufbery led Rickenbacker and Doug Campbell in planes that didn't even have guns! Lufbery continued to lead the 94th Squadron and had more unconfirmed victories in April 1918.

Raoul Lufbery's Death

This fuel pressure gauge was from an aircraft flown by Lufbery. It is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

On May 19, 1918, Lufbery took off in his Nieuport 28 plane. He was trying to stop a German Albatros C.III plane near his airfield. As Lufbery got close to attack, the German gunner shot his Nieuport.

What happened next is still debated. Some say Lufbery jumped from his plane from a height of 200 to 600 feet. They thought he might have jumped to avoid burning in the plane or to try and land in a nearby river. However, research done in 1962 suggests something different. Witnesses on the ground saw his plane flip over, but it was not burning. They saw Lufbery thrown out of the cockpit. It is believed he had unfastened his seat belt to try and fix a jam in his machine gun during the fight. His body fell and hit a metal fence, which caused his death.

Lufbery was buried with full military honors in France. Later, his remains were moved to a special memorial in Paris. Even though he was officially credited with 17 victories, his fellow pilots believed he shot down many more German planes. Some unofficial estimates say he had anywhere from 25 to 60 victories.

Awards and Honors

Raoul Lufbery received many awards for his bravery and service:

Raoul Lufbery's Legacy

A sculpture of Lufbery and an airplane is part of the Harmon Trophy. This award is given every year to honor great achievements in aviation (flying). In 1998, Lufbery was honored in the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Even though Lufbery only lived in Wallingford, Connecticut, for a short time, it was his official home. Many places there are named after him. These include an avenue, a park, a VFW building, and a highway ramp. Plaques were placed on his house and the Wallingford Historical Society building to mark 100 years since his death. The road connecting Interstate 91 exit 13 to Route 5 in Wallingford is called the Major General Raoul Lufbery Memorial Highway.

See also

• List of World War I flying aces from the United States