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Knights Without Parachutes — ted parsons

Stephen Thompson and Ted Parsons, the First Aero, and the Lafayette Escadrille

1st Aero Sq lafayette escadrille stephen thompson ted parsons

Stephen Thompson and Ted Parsons, the First Aero, and the Lafayette Escadrille

Stephen Thompson was associated with a lot of American firsts. He flew as an observer in the First Aero Squadron, which was not only named "First" but really was first. The First Aero Squadron got its name by being the first squadron of aviators operating in the US Army, flying the first American aviation mission launched from American soil over a foreign country (i.e. Mexico, which is about 4 miles away from Columbus, New Mexico, where they launched from) to keep an eye on Pancho Villa for Pershing. Remember, Pancho Villa's attack on New Mexico was in its way worse than the Pearl...

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