19 MAY--This Day in US Military History

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 11:34:48 -0400

1918 – Raoul Lufbery, one of the top-scoring US fighter pilots of the war with 17 victories, is killed during air combat.

He had served with other American volunteers in the French Escadrille Lafayette (originally the Escadrille Americaine and credited with 38 air victories) before the United States’ entry into the war. Lufbery was the commander of the famed 94th “Hat in the Ring” Aero Squadron at the time of his death.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/may-19/

May 19

19 May 1643 - Delegates from four New England colonies, Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Harbor, met in Boston to form a confederation: the United Colonies of New England. 1749 - Ki...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 11:40 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 11:40:20 -0400

SFC,

I enjoy your daily history articles! Thank you so much for taking the time to produce these for us. Knowing our history helps resolve our pride!

Response by SFC Robert Wheeler made May 19 at 2015 11:43 AM

SFC Robert Wheeler — Tue, 19 May 2015 11:43:38 -0400

"In the fall of 1916, Lufbery's name became attached with a commonly used defensive formation. Dubbed the "Lufbery Circle," the maneuver called for a squadron's aircraft to fly in a circle with each covering the tail of the one in front of it. While not invented by Lufbery, he helped popularize it with Allied fliers."

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/airforce/p/lufbery.htm