AHM COLLECTION
World War One Artifacts
Photo above: The Lafayette Escadrille squadron with their Nieuport 11 aircraft getting ready to fly reconnaissance and attack missions.
The Vintage Aero Flying museum in Colorado had one of the most complete and unique World War One collections. The majority of these artifacts have now been transferred to the American Heritage Museum thanks to a generous donor.
LaFayette Escadrille, there are 4 of these pilots in the collection. The uniforms and artifacts were acquired by Dr. James Parks over many years and ultimately displayed at the Vintage Aero Flying Museum.
Of the 103 WWI US Aces, the collection contains uniforms from 15 of these pilots. A total of 26 WWI Aces uniforms from the United States, Germany, Italy, France, Hungary and Britain are in the collection. One of the three founders of the LaFayette Escadrille, Elliot Cowdin, is featured in the collection. The first US pilot to have a victory and become an Ace in WWI, Doug Campbell is also featured. Artifacts from first ever US air victory by Stephen Thompson is in this impressive collection.
Now, in the hands of the American Heritage Museum, the collection will be thoroughly conserved and stored in preparation for display in the coming years.
The scope of the LaFayette Foundation WWI collection is tremendous. The artifacts consists of authentic WWI uniforms, medals, side arms, photographs, citations, fabric and artwork from WWI aircraft, first edition books, sterling silver, log books, pilot certificates, letters and ephemera, and a complete reference library that many books have been generated from. Of the original 38 American pilots who volunteered with the 19
COLLINGS FOUNDATION - AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM
History of the Lafayette Escadrille The Lafayette Escadrille was created primarily by three individuals: Mr. Norman Prince of Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. William Thaw of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Dr. Edmond Gros, an American expatriate living in France. Seeking to aid the Allies, they lobbied officials in Paris to create an all-American squadron within the French Air Service. In need of more combat forces and aware of the positive propaganda value of Americans flying under the French flag. France gratefully accepted these efforts.
