 Laurence Rumsey beside his Nieuport Scout at Bar-le-Duc in July 1916. Note his personal “Rum” insignia on the fuselage. |
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Brevet Dudley L. Hill upon receiving his wings
as a pilot in the Service Aeronautique. Hill was blind in his left
eye but passes the vision test by memorizing the chart. He was also
partially deaf.
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After about a month of service at Luxeuil, the new squadron was transferred into the Verdun sector to the Behonne Aerodrome near the village of Bar-le-Duc.
During this period, Clyde Balsley, Dudley Hill, Charles Johnson, Raoul Lufbery, Didier Masson, Paul Pavelka, and Laurence Rumsey joined the squadron.
The squadron was very active flying 146 sorties from the Behonne Airfield. Bert Hall scored the squadron’s second victory and his first on 23 May, and he scored his second on 23 July. Lufbery shot down a two-seater on 31 July.
During this tour, Rockwell and Thaw were wounded and on 23 June, Victor Chapman was shot down over the Verdun sector after being attacked by three German fighters.
For a week in July, the French Air Force pilot, Lieutenant Charles Nungesser flew with the Lafayette Escadrille. Nungesser went on to become one of France’s great aces with 45 victories.
By mid-September when it was reassigned to Luxeuil, the squadron could claim 13 victories.
Lieutenant Charles Nungesser survived the War and
was one of France’s greatest air heroes with 45 victories. Note his
grim insignia on his Nieuport. Nungesser disappeared attempting a Trans-Atlantic
Flight in 1927.
The first volunteers at Bar-le-Duc. L-R; Lt. DeLaage, Charles Johnson,
Laurence Rumsey, James McConnell, William Thaw, Raoul Lufbery, Kiffin
Rockwell, Didier Masson, Norman Prince, Bert Hall.