Kiffin Yates Rockwell (1892-1916) was born in 1892 in Newport, Tennessee to James Chester Rockwell (1868-1893) and Loula Ayres (1866-1959). After completing his preparatory schooling at the Orange Street School in Asheville, North Carolina, he enrolled at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on February 1, 1909. In November 1909, Rockwell enrolled at Washington and Lee University where his brother, Paul, was also a student. Rockwell left college in 1911 and worked for an advertising agency in Atlanta, Georgia until 1914.

The Rockwell brothers were passionately concerned about the impending European war and were determined to fight for France. Both men volunteered to serve in the French army shortly after World War I began. In August 1914 they enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, and by early October were in the trenches as members of Battalion C of the Second Marching Regiment of the Second Foreign Battalion. In March 1915 Rockwell applied for a transfer and joined the 1st Regiment of the Moroccan Division. In May 1915 he was wounded by machine gun fire at La Targette, France. Once Rockwell was healed, and with the encouragement of a fellow Legionnaire, he requested a transfer to the French aviation service.

Rockwell was accepted by the Service Aeronautique and began flight training in September 1915. In April of that year he became one of the founding pilots in the squadron initially known as the Escadrille Americaine (later called the Lafayette Escadrille). In May 1916 while on patrol at the front, he became the first American pilot to down an enemy plane. Rockwell subsequently flew dozens of patrols and fought in many air battles, gaining fame for his skill and courage. His final combat took place on September 23, 1916 when his Nieuport was downed by the gunner in a German Albatross observation plane. Rockwell is buried in Luxeuil-les-Bains, France.

Use the exhibit below to view photos of Rockwell. Visit and search the VMI Archives Photographs Collection to view additional photos.