1-217-232 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Raoul Lufbery, French-American fighter pilot and flying ace of World War I, 1917. Lufbery pictured with his two pet lions, Whiskey and Soda. Born in Clermont-Ferrand, Lufbery (1885-1918) moved to the United States when 6 years old. With the outbreak of the First World War he joined the French Foreign Legion before transferring to the French Air Service, then joining the US Air Service when America entered the war. Lufbery achieved his first kill over Verdun on 30 July 1916 and ended up with 17 victories before he was killed falling (possibly jumping) from his burning plane on 19 May 1918.