Abstract:
When World War I broke out in Europe in 1914, Kiffin Rockwell of Asheville and his brother Paul offered their services to France. After serving two years as an infantryman, Rockwell and six other Americans formed a fighter squadron called the Escadrille Lafayette. On May 18, 1916, he became the first American to shoot down an enemy plane. He was killed September 23, 1926 while engaging in his 142nd dogfight.