1892-1916 |
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used with permission of the "Virginia Military Institute Archives." |
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Left to Right:VICTOR CHAPMAN, ELLIOTT COWDIN, BERT HALL, WM. THAW, LT. DELAAGE, NORMAN PRINCE, J.R. MCCONNELL, K. ROCKWELL, CAPT. THENAULT Library of Congress Collection, 9-20-07 |
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Do Daring Work in France, The Cordele Dispatch, Wednesday, May 21, 1916, Transcribed by Bob Davis - June, 2004 The flotilla, including the craft piloted by Corporal Kiffin Rockwell, of Atlanta; Corporal James Rogers McConnell, of Carthage, N. C.; Sergeant Elliott Cowdin, of New York; Lieutenant William K. Thaw, of Pittsburg; Sergeant Norman Prince, of Boston; and Sergeant Hall, of Galveston, started at daybreak and spent nearly two hours reconnoitering under a hot fire but encountered no German machines. Corporal McConnell was flying at a height of 12,000 feet but German shells burst all around him, showing that the range of the German anti-aircraft guns had lengthened. Corporal Victor Chapman's machine was hit and driven out of its course, returning so late to its base as to cause anxiety regarding Chapman's fate. The aeroplane piloted by Lieutenant Thaw lost part of its tail piece and the propeller was damaged by a shell. Three more Franco-American flotillas are to be organized from the forty additional American volunteers now in training. |
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Left to Right: 1. K. ROCKWELL, 2. CAPT. THENAULT 3. NORMAN PRINCE, 4. LT. DELAAGE, 5. ELLIOTT COWDIN, 6. BERT HALL, 7. J.R. MCCONNELL, 8. VICTOR CHAPMAN, Library of Congress Collection, 9-17-08 |
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While Engaged in an Aerial Battle in Alsace Mrs. Rockwell, of Winston-Salem, N. C., Receives News of the Fate of Her Son Kiffin Yates Rockwell He Was Born at Newport, Tenn., Journal and Tribune Knoxville, Tennessee, September 24, 1916, Transcribed by Bob Davis - November, 2007 "The message announcing the aviator's death came from a friend of the family in Paris and read as follows: "Kiffin Rockwell killed this morning in aerial battle in Alsace." "Young Rockwell served at Verdun during the long months of fighting there and succeeded in bringing down four German aeroplanes unassisted. For this fear he recently received a war cross and military medal from the hands of General Joffre who referred to him as a "bold and courageous pilot." He had been mentioned frequently for bravery in official reports." "Mrs. Rockwell received a letter from her son only a few hours before the cablegram came telling of his death. In the letter he stated that he had been granted a leave of absence of eight days and had spent it in Paris with his brother, Paul Rockwell, who had been severely wounded earlier in the war and discharged from the French army. On the day that the letter was mailed in Paris, Rockwell left for the front. He wrote that he had been transferred from Verdun to a more active sector." "While the war began Kiffin Rockwell was connected with an advertising agency in Atlanta. With his brother Paul, who was a reporter on the Atlanta Constitution, he went to France. They enlisted in the Foreign Legion and began service on September 30, 1914. Paul later was wounded but Kiffin remained with the Legion until it was wiped out after seven months of fighting in the trenches. He then asked for a transfer to the aero corps and began training. In the meantime his brother had decided to remain in Paris and he began as the special correspondent there for several American newspapers which he is now serving." "Kiffin Rockwell was born on September 20, 1892, at Newport, Tenn. His father was a Baptist minister of North Carolina. His mother was Miss Lula Ayers, a member of a prominent South Carolina family. Rockwell's father died when the boy was two years old and later Mrs. Rockwell moved with her two sons to Asheville, N. C., where they lived for many years. Kiffin was a graduate of Washington and Lee university and also attended the Virginia Military Institute for a time." "Sergeant Kiffin Rockwell, of the Franco-American flying corps, is the second American flier to be killed in action. Just three months ago, on June 24, Corporal Victor Chapman, of New York, also a member of the Franco-American corps, was killed at Verdun in a battle with German aeroplanes. Later it became known that Chapman had been brought down by Capt. Boelke, Germany's most noted airman, who only a few days ago was reported to have brought down his twenty-eighth machine. Sergeant Rockwell received his first honors in May when he was awarded the military medal shortly after he had taken part in a raid over the German lines. He had many narrow escapes in aerial combats around Verdun and was reported to have brought down his fourth machine on September 9." "Soon after being appointed sergeant, Rockwell saved Chapman during a flight with German airmen near Verdun." |
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Collection of Guy-François Le Calvez, 1-11-08 |
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by W. J. K. Rockwell This page on the American Diplomacy website Offers a very valuable resource on the history of Rockwell and on the Lafayette Escadrille. Included are five priceless photographs including: The Lafayette Memorial near Paris; Members of newly formed Lafayette Escadrille, Summer or Fall 1916. From left, James R. McConnell, William Thaw, Raoul Lufbery, Rockwell (partially obscured), Didier Masson, Norman Prince, Bert Hall; the 2000 McConnell monument dedication; (l) and Paul Rockwell, Paris, fall 1914; and a nice portrait of Rockwell. July 1916. You will find mention of many of the other primary participants in the Lafayette Escadrille as well as details of the organization itself. You can access the page by clicking on the title. |
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"Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 12:10:44 -0700 From: "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" To: wwi Subject: Monday, 25 September 1916, Pau Message-ID: <324983B4.37DE@host.dmsc.net> Fair day. Had three good flights in a.m. to 1000 metres. Trying to secure all the information about the French Aviation Corps I can for Major Parker but am finding it difficult to secure. Paper today reported the death of Kiffin Rockwell, Paul's brother, at the front in an aerial combat. Wrote sympathy to Paul. Three flights in p.m. Went to 1000 metres in the third. Just a year ago today the big battle of Champagne commenced. How well I remember. ***************************** AN AMERICAN FOR LAFAYETTE, THE DIARIES OF E.C.C. GENET, LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE " Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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