SPA124 Lafayette Escadrille:
American Volunteer Airmen in World
War 1 (Aviation Elite Units) by Jon
Guttman
Lafayette Escadrille In Action!
This book tells the story of one of World War I’s most famous squadrons,
Spa. 124 - the only French squadron made up entirely of American
volunteers (save for the commander and executive officer.) Organised in
April 1916, the group was successively dubbed the Escadrille Americaine,
Escadrille des Volontaires and finally the Escadrille Lafayette. Its
achievements were modest, but it included several colourful characters
who captured the public imagination and played a major role in gaining
American sympathy for the Allied cause. When the United States finally
entered the war, many Lafayette veterans helped prepare US Army Air
Service and Navy pilots for combat, although a few chose to stay on with
the French.

Personal Review: SPA124 Lafayette Escadrille: American
Volunteer Airmen in World War 1 (Aviation Elite Units) by Jon
Guttman
Arguably the best-known American squadron to see combat in WWI, the
Lafayette Escadrille -N124/SPA124 - has had its exploits chronicled in
various books over the years. Jon Guttman and Osprey Publishing offer up
this 2004 volume which boasts a comprehensive yet insightful text along
with much illustrative material. As a starter book on those intrepid airmen,
it has a lot going for it.
N124, a combination of idealistic or adventure-seeking American
volunteers led by French commanders, first saw combat in May 1916. In
all, 38 pilots served with N124; nine were KIA or POW. The squadron was
credited with 37 victories; their sole ace - Raoul Lufbery - claimed 16 of
that total. In January 1918 now-SPA124 underwent a reorganization. The
American pilots became the 103rd Aero Squadron, U.S. Air Service;
SPA124 continued as a French squadron. Given its low score, N124's
contribution to the war wasn't the kills they scored but the example they
provided for other idealistic Americans anxious to fight for democracy. In
time, some 265 other Americans journeyed to France and joined the
Lafayette Flying Corps or other Allied squadrons.
I felt Guttman did an excellent job of summarizing the creation of the
Lafayette Escadrille, the personalities that made up N124 and their combat
exploits along with details of the 103rd in action, etc. In particular I enjoyed
reading of the internal life of N124; they weren't all saints nor were they all
a 'Band of Brothers.'
Complimenting the text are over 120 photos, some new to this reviewer.
As always, Harry Dempsey's color profiles were outstanding - 14 pages of
gorgeous Nieuports, Spads and even a Morane Saulnier two-seater.
The best book on the Lafyette Escadrille is probably Dennis Gordon's
LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE PILOT BIOGRAPHIES, long out of print. Given
its emphasis on the original squadron and follow-up units, its wealth of
illustrative material and easy-on-the-pocketbook price however, Guttman's
book, #17 in Osprey's 'Aviation Elite Units' series, is hard to beat.
Recommended.
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