Lafayette Escadrille Parties

[Akuma]

Came across the following: Teddy Roosevelt and Cornelius Vanderbilt gave large amounts of money to the Lafayette Escadrille to use as they pleased. Apparently the monies were used to fund lavish parties for which the Lafayette Escadrille became famous.
Any thoughts?

 

[SaparotRob]

Sounds right to me.

 

[gumbyk]

Came across the following: Teddy Roosevelt and Cornelius Vanderbilt gave large amounts of money to the Lafayette Escadrille to use as they pleased. Apparently the monies were used to fund lavish parties for which the Lafayette Escadrille became famous.
Any thoughts?

Most of the stories from the time recount regular parties. If you're likely to go out and die tomorrow....

 

[tyrodtom]

Most of the members of the Lafayette Escadrille were from the better off part of society anyway , (rich) .
About any combat group is noted for wild, drunken excess during off duty time.
The fact that the Lafayette Escadrille was in the public eye, it was in Paris a lot, and it got press, is the difference.

 

[Barrett]

THE best Lafayette treatment is/was Ed Parson's very readable I Flew With the Lafayette Escadrille though he also wrote a once-over-lightly history, The Great Adventure.
He said that a buzzard could have such a good time in Paris that he needed to return to the front so he could get some rest...

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Many members of the Lafayette Escadrille were upper crust Ivory League folks so not surprising. Same with the 103rd when it began operations.