Edward J. Loughran was born in the Harlem borough of New York City in 1893, the son of James Patrick Loughran, a saloon keeper. As a young man from a large family, Loughran had little time for education. He and his brothers had to start work at an early age. At the outbreak of World War One he was working as a railroad section hand with his brother, Edward, in Desoto, Kansas.
Loughran left Kansas to participate in the Great War. He served in France with the American Red Cross for six months prior to enlisting in France's Service Aeronautique on 20 March 1917. From 27 March to 26 October 1917, he attended the aviation school at Avord, Pau, and the G.D.E. He received his brevet on the Caudron on 31 August 1917.
On 29 October 1917, Caporal Loughran was assigned at the Front to Escadrille Spad 84. He flew diligently with that squadron, even passing by accumulated leave, until 18 February 1918, the day he was killed in combat southeast of Minaucourt.
On that day, while returning from a morning reconnaissance patrol, Sergent Loughran's SPAD was attacked by three enemy fighters. During the ensuing combat, Loughran was evidently wounded but still managed to reach Allied territory where he began a normal descent. However, 500 meters from the ground, Loughran's machine suddenly nose-dived and crashed with great force just behind the French defenses south of Minaucourt.
Sergent Loughran's body was recovered from his fighter and he was buried in the war cemetery at Mont Frenet. He was 25 years of age at the time of his death. In 1928, his remains were removed to the Lafayette Flying Corps monument just outside Paris.
[Source: "The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One," by Dennis Gordon. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000. Page 284.]
Loughran left Kansas to participate in the Great War. He served in France with the American Red Cross for six months prior to enlisting in France's Service Aeronautique on 20 March 1917. From 27 March to 26 October 1917, he attended the aviation school at Avord, Pau, and the G.D.E. He received his brevet on the Caudron on 31 August 1917.
On 29 October 1917, Caporal Loughran was assigned at the Front to Escadrille Spad 84. He flew diligently with that squadron, even passing by accumulated leave, until 18 February 1918, the day he was killed in combat southeast of Minaucourt.
On that day, while returning from a morning reconnaissance patrol, Sergent Loughran's SPAD was attacked by three enemy fighters. During the ensuing combat, Loughran was evidently wounded but still managed to reach Allied territory where he began a normal descent. However, 500 meters from the ground, Loughran's machine suddenly nose-dived and crashed with great force just behind the French defenses south of Minaucourt.
Sergent Loughran's body was recovered from his fighter and he was buried in the war cemetery at Mont Frenet. He was 25 years of age at the time of his death. In 1928, his remains were removed to the Lafayette Flying Corps monument just outside Paris.
[Source: "The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One," by Dennis Gordon. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000. Page 284.]
Edward J. Loughran was born in the Harlem borough of New York City in 1893, the son of James Patrick Loughran, a saloon keeper. As a young man from a large family, Loughran had little time for education. He and his brothers had to start work at an early age. At the outbreak of World War One he was working as a railroad section hand with his brother, Edward, in Desoto, Kansas.
Loughran left Kansas to participate in the Great War. He served in France with the American Red Cross for six months prior to enlisting in France's Service Aeronautique on 20 March 1917. From 27 March to 26 October 1917, he attended the aviation school at Avord, Pau, and the G.D.E. He received his brevet on the Caudron on 31 August 1917.
On 29 October 1917, Caporal Loughran was assigned at the Front to Escadrille Spad 84. He flew diligently with that squadron, even passing by accumulated leave, until 18 February 1918, the day he was killed in combat southeast of Minaucourt.
On that day, while returning from a morning reconnaissance patrol, Sergent Loughran's SPAD was attacked by three enemy fighters. During the ensuing combat, Loughran was evidently wounded but still managed to reach Allied territory where he began a normal descent. However, 500 meters from the ground, Loughran's machine suddenly nose-dived and crashed with great force just behind the French defenses south of Minaucourt.
Sergent Loughran's body was recovered from his fighter and he was buried in the war cemetery at Mont Frenet. He was 25 years of age at the time of his death. In 1928, his remains were removed to the Lafayette Flying Corps monument just outside Paris.
[Source: "The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One," by Dennis Gordon. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000. Page 284.]
Loughran left Kansas to participate in the Great War. He served in France with the American Red Cross for six months prior to enlisting in France's Service Aeronautique on 20 March 1917. From 27 March to 26 October 1917, he attended the aviation school at Avord, Pau, and the G.D.E. He received his brevet on the Caudron on 31 August 1917.
On 29 October 1917, Caporal Loughran was assigned at the Front to Escadrille Spad 84. He flew diligently with that squadron, even passing by accumulated leave, until 18 February 1918, the day he was killed in combat southeast of Minaucourt.
On that day, while returning from a morning reconnaissance patrol, Sergent Loughran's SPAD was attacked by three enemy fighters. During the ensuing combat, Loughran was evidently wounded but still managed to reach Allied territory where he began a normal descent. However, 500 meters from the ground, Loughran's machine suddenly nose-dived and crashed with great force just behind the French defenses south of Minaucourt.
Sergent Loughran's body was recovered from his fighter and he was buried in the war cemetery at Mont Frenet. He was 25 years of age at the time of his death. In 1928, his remains were removed to the Lafayette Flying Corps monument just outside Paris.
[Source: "The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One," by Dennis Gordon. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000. Page 284.]
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