WWI Lafayette Flying Corps Badge Sterling w Gold Plate

This is a museum quality reproduction of the WWI Lafayette Flying Corps badge in sterling silver with a 24karat gold plate. The Lafayette Flying Corps (also known as the Franco-American Flying Corps) was never a unit per se, instead it is a name used to describe all of the American pilots, to include the Lafayette Escadrille pilots, who flew for the French during World War I. There has been a great deal of confusion over the years attributed to the two names the Lafayette Escadrille and the Lafayette Flying Corps. The Lafayette Escadrille is the unit itself, originally established on April 16, 1916, and disestablished on February 18, 1918. Its members are made up solely of the 38 Americans and the 4 French who flew with the Escadrille during this period. The Escadrille was disbanded and reestablished as the U. S. 103rd Aero Pursuit Squadron. This badge was not worn by the Escadrille. It was a later awarded to those who were part of the squadron.