williamthaw

The Lafayette Escadrille, American volunteer pilots who flew combat missions for France before the US entered World War I.

Georges Thenault (1887-1948), commander of the Lafayette Escadrille - "the famed branch of the French air force in World War I composed of American volunteer pilots." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Thenault

On Norman Prince (at right in photo): "Captain Georges Thenault, the Escadrille's commander, credits Norman for conceiving the idea of bringing together his countrymen with some of those of the French Foreign Legion in a squadron of flyers to be initially known as the Escadrille Américaine."
(Wikipedia article puts Prince's date of death as October 15, 1916.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Prince
See notes under , taken in December, 1915 just before the founding of the squadron.

Art Siegel Quite right. Thanks for picking up my error.

A related group photo, with a negative date of 6/26/16.
From Kiffin Yates Rockwell's (1892-1916) page at the Virginia Military Institute site:
"Rockwell was accepted by the Service Aeronautique, began flight training in September 1915 and in April became one of the founding pilots in the squadron initially known as the Escadrille Americaine (later called the Lafayette Escadrille). In May 1916, while on patrol at the front, he became the first American pilot to down an enemy plane. Rockwell subsequently flew dozens of patrols and fought in many air battles, gaining fame for his skill and courage. His final combat took place on September 23, 1916, when his Nieuport was downed by the gunner in a German Albatross observation plane. Rockwell was first buried in the cemetery at Luxeuil-les-Bains, France, where there is still a marker; his remains were later moved to the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial at Marnes-la-Coquette."
www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=12371

artolog: thanks for researching the names and background information on these men. We will update the record.

See notes under:

earlyaviators.com/ethaw.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Thenault "Lieutenant Colonel Georges Thenault ... was the commander of the Lafayette Escadrille - the famed branch of the French air force in World War I composed of American volunteer pilots."

The Lieutenant would likely be Lt. Alfred de Laage de Meux. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette_Escadrille

artolog and swanq: thanks for the link to the other photos and the background information. We will update the record.

Pioneer American aviator who fought for the French before the U.S. entered WWI. See notes under:

earlyaviators.com/ethaw.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thaw_II

This photo was depicted in The Sunday Oregonian, August 13, 1916 with the caption: "Lieutenant William Thaw, of Pittsburg, is one of the American aviators serving in the French army. He has been decorated for bravery and advanced to rank of Lieutenant." oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1916-08-13/ed-1/se...

Thanks for this information B-59. We'll add some of it to the record the next time we update.