On the right side of the town’s war memorial.

Plaque

A rectangular plaque evoking the arrival of the La Fayette Squadron in the commune on April 20, 1916. The plaque is written in French.

The Lafayette Escadrille was a U.S. unit constituted in 1916 under French command, made up of volunteers who came forward to fight for France during World War I. The Escadrille of the Aeronautique Militaire was mainly composed of American volunteer pilots flying fighters. It was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the American Revolutionary War.

Authorized by the French Air Department on March 21, 1916, the Escadrille de Chasse Nieuport 124 (Escadrille Americaine) was deployed on April 20 in Luxeuil-Les-Bains, France, near Switzerland's border. 

Initially, there were seven American pilots: Victor E. Chapman, Elliot C. Cowdin, Weston (Bert) Hall, James R. McConnell, Norman Prince, Kiffin Rockwell, and William Thaw.   The full roster included 38 pilots.

Source of information: airforce.togetherweserved.com

Source of photos: www.geneanet.org

LE 20 AVRIL 1916

DANS LA VILLE DE LUXEUIL-LES-BAINS

L'ESCADRILLE LA FAYETTE

COMPOSEE DE VOLUNTAIRES AMERICAINS

FUR REÇUE OFFICIELLEMENT DANS L' ARMEE FRANÇAISE

English translation:

ON APRIL 20, 1916

IN THE TOWN OF LUXEUIL-LES-BAINS

THE LA FAYETTE ESCADRILLE

COMPOSED OF AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS

WAS OFFICIALLY RECEIVED INTO THE FRENCH ARMY