Paul Pavelka (October 26, 1890 – November 12, 1917)[2][5] was an American aviator and a member of the Lafayette Escadrille.

He received the Croix de Guerre while part of the French Air Force unit, and was a member of the Army of the Orient along the Macedonian front.

[7] His next job was as a nurse at a mental health hospital in New York, after which he travelled across the country by train to work at a cattle and sheep ranch in Montana.

[1][9] In 1910, Pavelka went to the Panama Canal Zone before moving south and climbing the Andes as part of an expedition that killed his fellow climbers.

[10] Pavelka became a sailor at the age of twenty, crossing the Pacific Ocean, stopping in London, and coming back to New York City before 1912.

[15] After returning to duty, Pavelka fought in the Second Battle of Champagne alongside his regiment, also working as a message runner.

[13] He took part in aviation school on December 10, 1915, joining the Lafayette Escadrille in August 1916 shortly after completing training.

[22] On October 30, 1916, while part of the Lafayette Escadrille, Pavelka was awarded the Croix de Guerre and cited for combating enemy forces by French general Maurice Sarrail,[3][18][23] and promoted to sergeant rank.