Schutzgebiet Deutsch-Ostafrika

From the onset of war in Europe in August 1914 many Americans travelled to Europe and offered their volunteer services to the Allied nations (typically Britain or France) in the war against the Central Powers. Often this service took the form of service in the French Foreign Legion or in the ambulance services (Ernest Hemingway for one, served with the ambulance corps in France).
Increasingly, American volunteers enlisted with the French Air Service from 1915 onwards (once their petition to be allowed to volunteer for military service abroad was granted by the U.S. government). It was not long before it was suggested that a squadron (or Escadrille in French) of Americans be established for active service on the Western Front.
In 1916, Dr. Edmund L. Gros, director of the American Ambulance Service, and Norman Prince, an American expatriate already flying with the French, got the squadron started. The French authorities stationed them at Luxeuil and provided them with a CO, Captain Georges Thénault, and some Nieuports, (thus the designation Nieuport 124 or simply N.124). Prince, Elliot Cowdin, James McConnell, Laurence Rumsey, Kiffin Rockwell, Victor Chapman, William Thaw and others of the initial group, settled themselves in luxury at the Grand Hotel. They selected an Indian head as their insignia, painted on the fuselages of their Nieuports. Dr. Gros recruited more experienced American aviators from French air units: Paul Pavelka, Didier Masson, Chouteau Johnson, Raoul Lufbery, Dudley Hill, and Clyde Balsley.
The squadron was quickly moved to Bar-le-Duc, closer to the front. A German objection filed with the U.S. government led to the name change, from Escadrille Américaine, in December over the actions of a supposed neutral nation. The original name implied that the U.S. was allied to France when it was in fact neutral.
Kiffin Rockwell had the honor of the Americans' first aerial victory, a German two-seater L.V.G. on May 18, 1916, before the move to Bar-le-Duc. Victor Chapman - a Harvard graduate along with Norman Prince - was the Escadrille's first fatality, killed in action a little over a month later, on 23 June 1916. The first major action seen by the squadron was at the Battle of Verdun. Rockwell, Bill Thaw, and Chapman suffered terribly bloody bullet wounds. Next Clyde Balsley was hospitalized with a leg injury. While flying to deliver some oranges to the hospitalized Balsley on June 23, Victor Chapman became the escadrille's first casualty. After this, they were sent back to Luxueil for more training. About this time, they adopted a lion cub, nicknamed "Whiskey," as their mascot; it was later joined by another, inevitably dubbed, "Soda."
The squadron suffered heavy losses, but its core group of 38 was rapidly replenished by other Americans arriving from overseas. So many volunteered that a "Lafayette Flying Corps" was formed in part to take the overflow. Altogether, 265 American volunteers served in the Corps.
Sixty-three members died during the war, 51 of them in action against the enemy. The Corps is credited with 159 enemy kills. It amassed 31 Croix de Guerre, and its pilots were awarded seven Médailles Militaire and four Légions d'Honneur. Eleven of its members were flying aces. The core squadron suffered nine losses and was credited with 34 victories.
The Escadrille had a reputation for daring, recklessness, and a party atmosphere. Lufbery himself had gotten into trouble for hitting an officer who was unwise to lay hands on him during on argument. He was rescued from jail by his squadron mates. He came calling on the escadrille during one of his convalescences and borrowed a Spad and shot down another German plane.
On February 8, 1918, the squadron was transferred to the United States Army Air Service as the 103rd Pursuit Squadron. For a brief period it retained its French planes and mechanics. Most of its veteran members were set to work training newly-arrived American pilots.