Wright-Patterson Air Force Base remembers World War I

ByMadison Metz
Staff Writer

On Friday, September 21, the The National Museum of the Air Force, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, hosted a dedication ceremony for the new World War I Airmen Memorial. This memorial-unveiling event was held in conjunction with a weekend of World War I activities, and took place on the centennial of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

At the event, there were representatives from Belgium, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Britain, to commemorate the sacrifices of those in the air forces on both side of the war. The memorial was built, in-part, with help from the WW1CC's 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive remains to be the largest, and most lethal, battle in U.S. military history. It was the last battle of the Great War, and led to the deaths of 26,722 Americans, with some 95,786 soldiers wounded.

During the battle, General Billy Mitchell led some 842 planes to the fight, and their efforts devastated the German ground forces. The air fleet played a substantial role in the victory of the Allied Forces. The fleet was comprised of forces from the United States, Belgium, France, Canada, Britain, and Australia.

Wright Patterson honored the pilots who gave the ultimate sacrifice by hosting the families of two courageous pilots, Charles Nungesser, and Gervaise Raoul Lufbery.

Nungesser was a French pilot who had over 43 air combat victories and received military decorations from France, Belgium, Montenegro, United States, Portugal, Russia, and Serbia.

Lufbery was a legendary French and American pilot who had officially 18 victories, but it is guessed that he had 25 to 60 wins according to witnesses and documents. Lufbery died in combat in 1918 buried with full military honors.

The weekend's World War I activities were many, and varied. There was a two-day fly-in event featuring authentic and replica World War I aircraft, sponsored by the museum and by the Great War Aeroplanes Association.

Activities and exhibits included:

Special thank you to Colonel Olivier Kaladjian, Air Attaché, Embassy of France, for his photos of the dedication ceremony.

Special thank you to photographers Don Popp and Bill McCuddy for their great images from the fly-in.

Madison Metz is a Fall 2018 Intern with the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission.