Produced by Paul Hollander, Juliet Sutherland, Linton Dawe, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. FLYING FOR FRANCE With the American Escadrille at Verdun BY JAMES R. McCONNELL Sergeant-Pilot in the French Flying Corps Illustrated from photographs through the kindness of Mr. Paul Rockwell To MRS. ALICE S. WEEKS Who having lost a splendid son in the French Army has given to a great number of us other Americans in the war the tender sympathy and help of a mother. CONTENTS Introduction By F. C. P. CHAPTER I. Verdun II. From Verdun to the Somme III. Personal Letters from Sergeant McConnell IV. How France Trains Pilot Aviators V. Against Odds LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS James R. McConnell _Frontispiece_ Some of the Americans Who are Flying for France Two Members of the American Escadrille, of the French Flying Service, Who Were Killed Flying For France "Whiskey." The Lion and Mascot of the American Flying Squadron in France Kiffin Rockwell, of Asheville, N.C., Who Was Killed in an Air Duel Over Verdun Sergeant Lufbery in one of the New Nieuports in Which He Convoyed the Bombardment Fleet Which Attacked Oberndorf INTRODUCTION One day in January, 1915, I saw Jim McConnell in front of the Court House at Carthage, North Carolina. "Well," he said, "I'm all fixed up and am leaving on Wednesday." "Where for?" I asked. "I've got a job to drive an ambulance in France," was his answer. And then he went on to tell me, first, that as he saw it the greatest event in history was going on right at hand and that he would be missing the opportunity of a lifetime if he did not see it. "These Sand Hills," he said "will be here forever, but the war won't; and so I'm going." Then, as an afterthought, he added: "And I'll be of some use, too, not just a sight-seer looking on; that wouldn't be fair." So he went. He joined the American ambulance service in the Vosges, was mentioned more than once in the orders of the day for conspicuous bravery in saving wounded under fire, and received the much-coveted Croix de Guerre. Meanwhile, he wrote interesting letters home. And his point of view changed, even as does the point of view of all Americans who visit Europe. From the attitude of an adventurous spirit anxious to see the excitement, his letters showed a new belief that any one who goes to France and is not able and willing to do more than his share--to give everything in him toward helping the wounded and suffering--has no business there.