FAMOUS SQUADRON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 291, 9 December 1939, Page 8

FAMOUS SQUADRON

ON WAR FRONT AGAIN I LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE ! THE 191! BOTTLE OF SCOTCH LONDON. Nov. 11. [ An air squadron which achieved j fame in the last war is once more on j active service. Equipped with the latest of American lighting planes, the Lafayette Escadrille has been reorganised and is now doing its Hying service ;.bove the Maginot and Siegfried Line... q 'iie squadron is composed of young French pilots who wear the distinguished Indian head insignia, originated by the first American aviators as their “escutcheon.” The Indian’s headband carries a swastika, the reverse of the one used by the Nazis. And in their quarters, club room and estaminet are to bo found other souvenirs o£ the group of 100 or more Americans who first formed and flew the Lafayette Escadrille against the German planes in the days of ’ll and ’l5. There arc American and French oags on the walls, along with some Nazi flags, trophies of this war. However, the most interesting and treasured relic of the original escadrille is an ancient bottle of Scotch whisky. This was one of the last of a case of Scotch purchased by the Americans to celebrate their aerial conquests. When one of the Curtiss planes drops out of the skies with its pilot credited with shooting down a German plane he is escorted to the bar. The commander carefully doles out about a teaspoonful of the precious Scotch—they say it has Lo last for many more victory toasts —and the flyer pours it down with the traditional gulp. And since the start of the war it has been uncorked more than once. The escadrille pilots were actively engaged first in the aerial battle o£ September 30. when nine of the squadron engaged 15 Messerschmitts, bringing down five of the enemy planes. While not as fast as the Messerschmitt. the Curtiss is much move manoeuverable. and thus is at an advantage in a brisk dog fight. “We expect to place orders for sex - I oral more cases of whisky soon." said I one pilot, confident of the future sue- i cess of the Lafayette Escadrille. ,