French World War I pilots

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 45. Chapters: French World War I flying aces, Roland Garros, Georges Carpentier, Georges Guynemer, Georges Thenault, Charles Nungesser, René Fonck, Raoul Lufbery, Alfred Heurtaux, Armand Pinsard, Georges Madon, Michel Coiffard, Jean Navarre, William Thaw II, Marcel Marc Dhôme, Maurice Boyau, Jean Casale, Georges Lachmann, Léon Bourjade, Jacques Ortoli, Gilbert Sardier, Hector Garaud, Bernard Artigau, Jean Andre Pezon, Adrien L. J. Leps, Bernard Barny de Romanet, Henri Albert Péronneau, Auguste Lahoulle, Charles Nuville, Marcel Nogues, Arthur Coadou, René Dousinelle, Théophile Henri Condemine, Dieudonne Costes, Louis Prosper Gros, Adolphe Pégoud, Jean Chaput, Lucien Gasser, Jean Bozon-Verduraz, Jean G. Bouyer, Gustave Douchy, William Herisson, Jean Matton, Ernest Maunoury, Marcel Haegelen, Maurice Bizot, Alexandre Bretillon, Laurent B. Ruamps, Jean Derode, François de Rochechouart, Fernand Bonneton, Alfred Auger, André Dubonnet, Armond J. Berthelot, Charles Quette, André Robert Lévy, Francis Guerrier, François Battesti, François Delzenne, Joseph-Henri Guiguet, François Portron, Yves F. Barbaza, Paul Teste, Eugene Weismann, Pierre Dufaur de Gavardie, Paul Gastin, Paul Santelli, Marie Vitalis, Jules Covin, Robert Delannoy, Jean-Paul Favre De Thierrens, Antoine Paillard, Constant Plessis, Marcel Henriot, Albert Achard. Excerpt: Lieutenant Colonel Georges Thenault (pronounced "Ten-o") was the commander of the Lafayette Escadrille - the famed branch of the French air force in World War I composed of American volunteer pilots. The Lafayette Escadrille was created before the United States gave up its neutrality, and joined France and England in its war against Germany. Once the United States formally entered the war, the Lafayette Escadrille was absorbed into the U.S. Army. Born December 1887, small town of Celle-Lévescault, France (located on main highway between La Rochelle and Tours). Standing 5-ft, 8-in, he was a giant in the eyes of his fellow Frenchmen and a respected leader amongst the American volunteer pilots. Identified as N.124, the Lafayette Escadrille was assigned to Groupe de Combat 13 under the overall command of Commandant Philippe Féquant. During 1916-1917, this Groupe de Combat 13 took part in such engagements as the Battle of the Somme, the Second Battle of the Aisne, the Battle of Verdun, and in the Battle of Passchendaele. In early 1918, it operated in the region between Soissons and Reims. Captain Georges Thenault, French Aviation Service, circa 1918Captain Georges Thenault credits Adjudant Norman Prince for conceiving the idea of bringing together his countrymen with some of those of the French Foreign Legion in a squadron of flyers. That was in November 1914. Support soon came about from civilian and military representatives of France and the United States. These representatives added expertise and government networking resolving over time the method of recruiting and financing, and successfully encountering the French officialdom. The men instrumental in providing this organizational support included: Jarousse de Sillac, undersecretary of the French Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis team of five experts identified the many issues involved and the obstacles that had to be overcome, and helped the first American volunteers to develop a plan: "There were Americans fighting