Cedric Errol Fauntleroy (1891–1973) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the " United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, ...

pilot who in 1919 volunteered to serve in the

Polish Air Force The Polish Air Force ( pl, Siły Powietrzne, , Air Forces) is the aerial warfare branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as ''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' (). In 2014 it consisted of roughly 16,425 mil ...

during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919–1921. Born near

Natchez, Mississippi Natchez ( ) is the county seat of and only city in Adams County, Mississippi, United States. Natchez has a total population of 14,520 (as of the 2020 census). Located on the Mississippi River across from Vidalia in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, ...

, Fauntleroy served with

Eddie Rickenbacker Edward Vernon Rickenbacker or Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient.94th Fighter Squadron The 94th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force 1st Operations Group located at Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. The 94th is equipped with the F-22 Raptor. The 94 FS is one of the oldest units in the United States Air ...

on the Western Front in World War I. Recruited by his fellow veteran

Merian C. Cooper Merian Caldwell Cooper (October 24, 1893 – April 21, 1973) was an American filmmaker and Academy Award winner, as well as a former aviator who served as an officer in the United States Air Force and Polish Air Force. In film, he is credited a ...

in 1919, he became one of the best pilots of the

Polish 7th Air Escadrille Polish 7th Air Escadrille ( pl, 7. Eskadra Lotnicza), better known as the Kościuszko Squadron, was one of the units of the Polish Air Force during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921. Formed in late 1918, it was re-formed in late 1919 from US ...

, dubbed the '' Kościuszko Escadrille'' (the Kosciuszko Squadron, named for Polish and American national hero

Tadeusz Kościuszko Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko ( be, Andréj Tadévuš Banavientúra Kasciúška, en, Andrew Thaddeus Bonaventure Kosciuszko; 4 or 12 February 174615 October 1817) was a Polish military engineer, statesman, and military leader who ...

). He was promoted to

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

and he received Poland's highest military decoration: the

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', pl, Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was created in 1792 by Polish King Stan ...

, besides being awarded the Cross of Valour four times.citation in: personnel records of the Polish army (''Dziennik Personalny''), Ministry of Military Affairs, published 30 April 1921 (appeared periodically as an appendix to ''Polska Zbrojna''), Nr 21, item 844.

References

3. Documentary television movie in Poland from 2005. Story of Merian Cooper, and the Americans who flew in defense of Poland in 1919/20. The Magnificent Seventeen. http://www.filmydokumentalne.eu/siedemnastu-wspanialych/ *Janusz Cisek, ''Kosciuszko, We Are Here!: American Pilots of the Kosciuszko Squadron in Defense of Poland, 1919-1921'', McFarland, 2002. {{DEFAULTSORT:Fauntleroy, Cedric American World War I pilots Polish Air Force officers Recipients of the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland) Polish people of the Polish–Soviet War 1891 births 1973 deaths