RC GOES HOLLYWOOD

The Long Island Skyhawks fly for “The Lafayette Escadrille”

- SAL CALVAGNA

There are many activities associated with our RC modeling clubs that keep the interest and fun in our hobby. But once in a great while, something really special comes along. Such was the case this summer with my club, the Long Island, when we were asked to participate in the making of a full-length motion picture. The producers needed us to fly some of our giant scale WW1 aircraft for their documentary, “The Lafayette Escadrille.”

The actual Lafayette Escadrille was a unit in the French Air Service made up mainly of American volunteers who were under French command. The unit was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French volunteer and hero of the American Revolutionary War. One of the reasons the Escadrille was formed was to have their efforts recognized by the American public and hopefully result in foregoing neutrality and joining in the fight. Eventually 224 Americans joined the unit; 51 died in combat, 11 died in non-combat roles, 15 became prisoners of war and 11 pilots became aces. The documentary focuses around the initial 38, 11 of whom would lose their lives during the conflict. All strongly felt they were serving in a just cause.