Paul Pavelka

Paul Pavelka (October 26, 1890 – November 12, 1917) He then joined the United States Navy, serving on the USS Maryland (ACR-8), before being discharged. He moved to France in 1914 prior to the beginning of World War I.

World War I The emblem of the Lafayette Escadrille. Pavelka joined the unit in August 1916 after completing aviation training. alt=An image of an aviation unit's emblem, depicting a Native American with black hair and blue and white feathers behind them. Pavelka first entered as a member of the French 170th Infantry Regiment and the Army of Counani in October 1914, before joining the French Foreign Legion in France after the army disbanded. On June 16, 1915, Pavelka was wounded in hand-to-hand combat near Givenchy, sustaining a bayonet wound to the leg. He and another soldier were wounded, while three other Americans were killed during the battle that day. After returning to duty, Pavelka fought in the Second Battle of Champagne alongside his regiment, also working as a message runner. On October 5, 1915, Pavelka was believed to be killed in the battle; but he was found several days later. In total, Pavelka fought in three battles.

In December 1915, Pavelka was transferred to French aviation, first enlisting on October 18, 1915. He took part in aviation school on December 10, 1915, joining the Lafayette Escadrille in August 1916 shortly after completing training. During his tenure at the aviation school in France, he set a record for pistol shooting in the air. He was first assigned a Nieuport 16 plane which had a history of accidents, deeming it "hoodoed". In December 1916, Pavelka requested to be part of the Army of the Orient, in which he was later sent to the Salonika front. Several days after arriving in Salonika in February 1917, he flew a Nieuport plane over enemy lines five hours a day. Midway through 1917, Pavelka was involved in a vehicle accident in which the vehicle fell down a ravine, injuring him. However, he resumed aviation less than two weeks after the accident. On August 13, 1917, the engine in the Nieuport 16 plane Pavelka was flying caught fire. Pavelka crashed the plane into a swamp after attempting to keep the flames away from its cockpit. and promoted to sergeant rank.