"Screaming Chief Sitting Bull" oil on aircraft dope covered fabric 19 x 26 inches (not including frame). By family tradition, this was taken from one of the original WWI Lafayette Escadrille planes by William J. Whipfall. The La Fayette Escadrille (French: Escadrille de La Fayette) was a U.S. unit constituted in 1916 under French command, made up of volunteers who came forward to fight for France during World War I. The escadrille of the Aéronautique Militaire was composed largely of American volunteer pilots flying fighters. It was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War. The Indian-head insignia was carried forward to become the insignia of the U.S. Army Air Service's 103rd Aero Squadron when the Lafayette Escadrille was disbanded on February 8, 1918. Provenance: SGT William J. Whipfall (1887-1970) draft registration 1917-1918. 103 Aero Squadron January 27, 1918. It was said that Whipwell had once flown with Eddie Rickenbicker. As a civilian he was at one time a dealer in automobiles and airplanes in Nyack, NY. This lot has descended in the family to Whipfall's grand nephew, the consignor. Please see photos of newspaper articles which go into greater detail.