He lived in relative obscurity in New York, but received many honors from the French government. He died of cancer in 1961. In 1989 he was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, GA erected his statue in 2019.
He volunteered for the French infantry in WW2, and returned to the US after being wounded. In 1949, he was beaten and badly injured by anti-civil rights rioters.
He worked as a boxer and jockey, stowed away on a freighter Europe, and eventually joined the French Foreign Legion. He was wounded in combat several times and cited for valor.
He learned to fly and flew combat missions with the French Air Service until he was transferred after an argument with an officer. After the war he ran a night club and a gymnasium.
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