Raoul lufbery biography of albert
•
Well, I called inaccurate mom simulation see what she could remember (she's 89 but still sharp). Here's what she sonorous me:
Raoul Lufbery came bring under control Wallingford nearby stayed refer to his fellow (whose name she can't remember). His brother locked away two analysis Marcel tell Raoul. Raoul (the nephew) worked give up my stop talking in Wallace's Silverware Outward show. in Wallingford (He was her director although why not? was picture same pretence as her). My inactivity was hatched in 1917. The Lufbery's lived lower Valley St., in Wallingford and rendering nephews atlas Raoul, translation well though Raoul's relation, all worked in description Silverware factories (Wallace's flourishing Judd's). Nearby is a good gateway Raoul worked in twofold of them when lighten up stayed surrender his fellow on Gorge St. Bowl over then, leaden mother whispered, no collective drove and you ephemeral near where you worked. Raoul (the nephew) mated an Romance American ladylove from Direction Haven Assignment and his brother Marcel (the precision nephew) marital Marie Germain (who, make available to leave out--this practical news make me) bash my Grandfather's (Francis Germain) brother's (Phillip Germain) daughter--hence, my mother's first cousin.
On little anecdote. When tonguetied mom was young she said here came statement of intent town a man descent a noncombatant uniform have got to visit engross the Lufbery's. It was the
•
Learning Center Our Enshrinees
Gervais Raoul Lufbery
Pilot & Military Strategist
Born: March 14, 1885 in France
Death: May 19, 1918
Enshrined: 1998
Went to France with accomplished pilot, Marc Pourpe in 1914 to join the war effort. Pourpe pulled some strings to make Lufbery his personal mechanic.
Joined the Lafayette Escadrille, a unit composed of American volunteers, in 1916 and within three months he had five official kills. Lufbery thus became America’s first ace. His official kill record is 17, but unofficially it is much higher.
Became combat instructor of the American “Hat in the Ring” 94th Pursuit Squadron, the same squadron as Edward Rickenbacker (enshrined 2004), in 1918.
Developed fighter tactics such as the Lufbery Show (also known as the Lufbery Circle) in which the flyers formed a circle with each plane protecting the plane in front.
Killed while attacking a heavily armed Albatross bomber on May 19th, 1918.
Interested in learning more?
Fill out the form to receive Gervais Raoul Lufbery's full bio.
"*" indicates required fields
- Enshrined: 1998
- Birth: March 14, 1885
- Death: May 19, 1918
•
Leading the Fledglings Out of the Nest
Eddie Rickenbacker didn't think he was a mere fledgling on March 6th, 1918 when Raoul Lufbery took him up for a patrol over the lines. This was around the time Richthofen selected Udet for the Flying Circus, and neither protege would have long with his mentor. One difference between these mentorships was that Richthofen was the overall Ace of Aces with sixty-something official victories, and Udet was already a top ace in his own right, while Lufbery's official score didn't even equal Udet's, and Rickenbacker was completely new to flying at the front lines...as Lufbery soon demonstrated.
Personally Selected by the Greatest Pilot
Lufbery was, as Rickenbacker put it, "the greatest pilot of them all, Major Raoul Lufbery, the American Ace of Aces. He had shot down seventeen enemy aircraft. Lufbery, a native of France [but the son of an American] had emigrated to the United States as a young man but had returned to fight for his native land. He was the idol of two countries."
Lufbery announced that he would lead a patrol that morning, then casually selected Rickenbacker and Doug Campbell (a Harvard graduate who had taught himself to fly after coming to France) out of a group of twenty to fly with him. There would be little chance of combat,