First to Fight: An American Volunteer in the French Foreign Legion and the Lafayette Escadrille in World War I

American Kiffin Rockwell joined the elite French Foreign Legion and volunteered to fight in the air, becoming the first American pilot to shoot down a German plane and fly the Lafayette Escadrilles every mission until his death in aerial combat in September 1916.

Format: Hardback
Length: 654 pages
Publication date: 31 December 2019
Publisher: Stackpole Books

Five weeks after the outbreak of World War I in the summer of 1914, American Kiffin Rockwell was on a ship for France. The United States would not join the war nearly three years, but Rockwell believed it was time to fight. In France, he joined the elite French Foreign Legion and was soon fighting in the trenches of the Western Front. A combat wound in 1915 rendered him unfit to fight on the ground, so Rockwell volunteered to fight in the air, joining the brand-new Lafayette Escadrille, a storied fighter squadron of volunteer pilots, most of them American, most of them wealthy aristocrats. In May 1916, Rockwell became the first American pilot to shoot down a German plane and soon after was wounded in the skies over Verdun. He flew the Lafayette Escadrilles every mission until his death in aerial combat in September 1916.

First to Fight is a high-octane drama of a remarkable soldier and pilot who fought in the trenches and in the skies during World War I. It is the story of one of the first American fighter pilots at the dawn of aerial combat, the era of the Red Baron, with dogfighting biplanes high above the trench lines. But more than a World War I story, more than an aviation story, this is the story of an idealist who volunteered – long before his country drafted its first soldier – to fight, and ultimately die, in defense of civilization.

Rockwell's journey to France began with his enlistment in the French Foreign Legion, a prestigious military unit known for its bravery and loyalty. He was assigned to the 10th Battalion, a unit that had seen extensive combat in the First World War. Rockwell's training was rigorous, and he quickly proved himself to be a skilled fighter, earning the respect of his fellow soldiers and officers.

In May 1916, Rockwell's unit was sent to the Western Front, where the fighting was intense and the conditions were harsh. The trenches were muddy, the air was thick with smoke, and the enemy was always close. Rockwell's first mission was a reconnaissance flight over the German lines, where he spotted several enemy planes. He immediately alerted his superiors, and a dogfight ensued.

Rockwell's skill as a pilot was evident, and he quickly gained a reputation as a fierce fighter. He downed several German planes, including one of the Red Baron's squadrons, and was soon promoted to the rank of captain. However, his success came at a cost. In September 1916, Rockwell was shot down over Verdun, France, and was seriously injured. He was taken to a field hospital, where he underwent several surgeries and spent several months recovering.

Despite his injuries, Rockwell refused to give up. He continued to fly missions for the Lafayette Escadrille, even after he was declared unfit to fly. He flew reconnaissance flights, dropped supplies to his fellow soldiers, and even took part in a daring raid on a German ammunition depot.

Rockwell's bravery and determination were remarkable, and he inspired his fellow soldiers and officers with his courage and selflessness. He died in aerial combat in September 1916, but his legacy lives on. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the highest award given to a U.S. military pilot for valor in combat.

First to Fight is a powerful and inspiring film that tells the story of a remarkable soldier and pilot who fought in the trenches and in the skies during World War I. It is a testament to the bravery and selflessness of those who served in the military during this terrible conflict, and to the sacrifices that they made in defense of civilization.

Weight: 588g
Dimension: 236 x 161 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780811738040