Russian Pilots on the Western Front...

[Graham Broad]

The rather quixotic History of 24 Squadron by Illingsworth and Robeson mentions at one point an occasion in January 1917 when "the Russians" came to dinner, including one notable pilot. No names. The whole book is like that.

Any idea who these men might have been? Sounds like they partied hard with their 24 Squadron counterparts.

[josquin]

Graham,

The "notable pilot" may be Warrant Officer Jaan Mahlapuu, an Estonian in the Imperial Russian Air Service who completed his pilot training in 1915 and was eventually sent to the U.K. for several months to train on Nieuports. Mahlapuu was one of the successful scout pilots in the Russian service, credited with 6 to 2 victories depending on the source, who was honored for his heroism in combat at Riga, Latvia. He was killed on 2 August 1917, at Riga, when his aging Nieuport 21 lost a wing at takeoff. If the 24 Sqn.memoir was referring to Mahlapuu, it is understandable that recording his name
correctly may have been expecting too much--especially amidst hard-
partying!

Josquin

[James A. Pratt III]

There were some Russian pilots who did get there pilot training in France and flew with French esc. There were also a few Russians who got there pilot training in Russia who did come to France for more training and did fly a few ops with the French. There were also some Russians who went to England and got their flight training there.