28th Aero Squadron

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28th Aero Squadron
Curtiss JN-4
, 1917
Service record
Operations

3d Pursuit Group
Western Front, France: 22 August – 11 November 1918[2]

Victories
  • Enemy Aircraft shot down: 15[4]
  • Enemy Balloons shot down: 0[4]
  • Total Enemy Aircraft Destroyed: 15[4]

    • Air Aces: 2[5]

    The 28th Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I.

    The squadron was assigned as a Day Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron as part of the

    1918 Armistice with Germany, the squadron returned to the United States in June 1919 and was demobilized.[3][7]

    The current United States Air Force unit which holds its lineage and history is the 28th Bomb Squadron, assigned to the 7th Operations Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.[8]

    History

    Origins

    The squadron was first assembled at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, on 10 February 1917. At the time, there were about 20 men assigned to the unit. The first few months were spent on learning the rudiments of soldiering, and it was not until 22 June that the squadron received its official designation.[3]

    Orders were received that the squadron would be attached to the British

    Camp Borden, Ontario under the 42d Wing, RFC. The remainder of the squadron were placed in different schools and on the flying fields in the vicinity of Toronto. In Canada, the squadron was trained in aircraft construction, overhaul, upkeep, motor transport work, aerial gunnery and other skills.[3]

    At the end of October, the squadron was re-assembled at Leaside. New orders were received and the 28th was transferred to Everman Field (#1),

    First Lieutenants.[3]

    On 21 January 1918 the squadron was ordered to proceed to Garden City, Long Island, New York for overseas deployment. The 22d arrived on the 26th. Due to an epidemic of fever, the squadron was immediately quarantined, although the men was allowed to spend time in New York City as passes were plentiful. Finally on 25 February, the squadron was embarked on the troop transport HMS 527, better known as the White Star Liner RMS Olympic[9] at New York Harbor, Pier 54. The trans-Atlantic trip was uneventful until the second day out of Liverpool, England when the ship was picked up by four US Navy destroyers. That afternoon, all on board were suddenly alarmed by a heavy explosion, followed by several smaller detonations which shook the big ship from bow to stern. A German U-boat was being attacked by the destroyers, with one of them passing directly over the destroyer, dropping depth charges in the attack. The trip to England ended the next day about noon, however the 22d did not disembark the ship until the following morning, 6 March 1918.[3]

    After disembarking, the squadron was marched from the docks to the Liverpool railway station where it boarded a London and North Western Railway train which took them to Winchester in Hampshire, near the south coast of England. Arriving in the late afternoon the squadron was moved to the Romsey Rest Camp. At Romsey, the squadron was split up into four flights and the pilots were ordered transferred to Royal Air Force Airdromes in England for combat flying training. On 17 March the non-flying personnel were moved to the Southampton docks and embarked on the Channel boat "Archimdos", leaving about 18:30. Overnight was spent on the boat and daybreak found the ship in the harbor of Le Havre, Upper Normandy, France. The men disembarked about 16:30 and were moved to a rest camp on the hills above the city.[3]

    Training in France

    At the rest camp, orders were received for "C" Flight to proceed to

    No. 18 Squadron RFC at the Treizennes Aerodrome, south of Aire sur la Lys, and "C" Flight further east at the Villers-Bretonneux aerodrome with No. 25 Squadron RFC.[3]

    The officers and men were growing accustomed to the work and surroundings when the German

    1918 Spring Offensive began on 21 March. This necessitated movements and a great deal of work as all Flights were attached to bombing units and three or four raids were being carried out daily. On the late afternoon of 25, 25 March Sqn, to which Flight "C" was attached, was hurriedly moved back as the Germans were driving on Amiens. On 1 April, Headquarters and "A" Flight were detached from 57 Squadron and attached to No. 20 Squadron RAF, equipped with the Bristol F.2 Fighter. On 7 April "B" Flight was reassigned to No. 40 Squadron RAF. During this time the Germans had started their drive for the French Channel ports in the region south of Ypres. Enemy artillery was shelling the Airdrome at Treizennes, forcing 18 Squadron, 40 Squadron and "B" Flight to move to safer quarters on 8 April on Bruay aerodrome (?). By 12 April, the Germans were in light artillery range of Sainte-Marie-Cappel. There Headquarters Flight was moved out and attached to No. 206 Squadron RAF, equipped with Airco DH.9 day bombers on Boisdinghem aerodrome. "A" Flight was re-attached to No. 98 Squadron RAF, also equipped with DH.9s at Alquines. On 15 April, Headquarters Flight also was assigned to 98 Sqn. On 25 May 98 Squadron and "A" Flight were moved to the Coudekerque aerodrome, in the outskirts of Dunkirk, however, the enemy bombed the field on the night of 5 June, causing much damage, being considered the worst that any Airdrome experienced. The next morning a move was made to Ruisseauville where 98 Sqn joined with 25 Sqn and "C" Flight.[3]

    By the end of June, rumors were persistent that the 28th Squadron would be re-assembled and work at a unit. These rumors turned out to be true and on the 24th the squadron was re-assembled at Wizernes aerodrome, near St. Omer, and then proceeded by train to the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center, on Issoudun Aerodrome, arriving on the 28th. Here, the men were placed in training for major aircraft repair, and were hard at work learning new skills. On 7 July, the squadron was moved to Orly, Paris for additional training. Also at Orly, the Air Echelon, which had been training with the RAF was reassigned to the squadron. On 14 July, the squadron entrained at Paris for Toul to return to the front.[3]

    Combat operations

    28th Aero Squadron Command staff, November 1918

    The 28th Aero Squadron arrived at

    St. Mihiel offensive and flying at an altitude of about 50 meters attacked troops and transport vehicles. A horse-drawn convoy was also spotted and attacked. The patrol returned to Vaucouleurs without losses.[3]

    Additional bombing and strafing attacks with machine guns on roads and troop encampments were made for the next two days as part of the Offensive, and on 15 September a special mission came through for one plane to take off at 10:45. This mission was to attack an enemy observation balloon north-east of

    Chambley however the pilot did not find a balloon in the area and returned safely. Later that same day, a second special patrol was ordered for the protection of two 135th Aero Squadron Airco DH.4 day bombers. The escort mission followed a route from Thiacourt, then to the northwest. It was accomplished successfully with no losses.[3]

    Squadron lead Non-Commissioned officers (with camp mascot dog on a machine gun), November 1918

    On 20 September, the squadron was moved to Lisle-en-Barrois aerodrome, about 30 miles to the north-west of Vaucouleurs to move closer to the front after the advance from St. Mihiel. Following several non-flying days due to rain, defense patrols along the line in this sector continued until 26 September when eight aircraft flew a reconnaissance mission deep behind German lines to the area around Hernoment in which a long train was spotted heading south. A large number of trucks were also seen and reported back upon return. Another patrol by the squadron to escort seven DH.4s on a bombing mission. Seven German Fokkers were intercepted, however no aircraft were shot down by either side.[citation needed]

    With the Meuse-Argonne offensive starting on 26 September, more bomber escort missions were undertaken though the end of the month. Combat missions were undertaken throughout October supporting the offensive with bombing and escort missions over enemy territory in support of First Army. On 6 November orders were received to move the squadron to a new Airdrome at

    2d Pursuit Group.[10] From there bombing escort missions and raids against enemy forces in their territory north of Verdun as the ground forces advance to the north continued.[3]

    The last patrols of the war were carried out on the morning of 10 November when bombing raids was ordered to attack any of these following points: Merge, Meulin, Billy, Seus Magines, St. Laurent, Marville, Quiny, Lamsuilly, Reute, Feucaucourt, Verdun Etain, Maranville, and Feuancourt. The 28th carried out escort missions for the bombers and also machine-gunned enemy troops and vehicles when located. Upon the return of the aircraft that afternoon a great joy spread over the entire field and everyone was out to greet the good news about the pending armistice. The pilots and staff of the squadron celebrated by gathering in the mess hall and "had a jovial time". A patrol was scheduled for the early morning of 11 November, however it was cancelled due to rain. As 11:00, it was announced by the Squadron Commander that flying over enemy territory would cease from that moment on, as the armistice had been signed and the war was over.[3]

    Demobilization

    After the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, the 28th Aero Squadron awaited demobilization. On 16 April 1919 orders were received from HQ AEF that the Second Army Air Service was being demobilized and for the squadron to report to the 1st Air Depot,

    Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome to turn in all of its supplies and equipment and was relieved from duty with the AEF. The squadron's SPAD aircraft were delivered to the Air Service American Air Service Acceptance Park No. 1 at Orly Aerodrome to be returned to the French. There practically all of the pilots and observers were detached from the squadron.[11]

    Personnel at Colombey were subsequently assigned to the commanding general, services of supply, and ordered to report to a staging camp at Le Mans, France. There, personnel awaited scheduling to report to one of the Base Ports in France for transport to the United States.[11] Sailing from Brest aboard the USS Liberator on 3 June, the 12th arrived at Garden City, New York, on 17 June 1919[12] The squadron was demobilized on 16 June 1919.[7][8]

    Lineage

    • Organized as 28th Aero Squadron on 22 June 1917
    Re-designated: 28th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 15 July 1918
    Demobilized on 16 June 1919[3][8]

    Commanding officers

    • Captain J. R. Alfonte
    • Major P. Frissell: 14 July 1917
    • Major C. A. Brown
    • Captain C. Maury Jones[citation needed]

    Assignments

    Stations

    • Hazebrouck Airdrome, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, 20 March 1918
    Ground Echelon separated into Flights for support training with RAF

    Headquarters and "A" Flight

    Combat sectors and campaigns

    Streamer Sector/Campaign Dates Notes
    Somme Defensive Campaign
    		 21 March – 6 April 1918 [14]
    Lys Defensive Campaign
    		 9–27 April 1918 [14]
    Ypres Sector (Belgium) 28 April – 24 June 1918 [14]
    Champagne-Marne Defensive Campaign
    		 15–18 July 1918 [14]
    Aisne-Marne Offensive Campaign
    		 18 July – 6 August 1918 [14]
    Toul Sector 2–11 September 1918 [14]
    St. Mihiel Offensive Campaign
    		 12–16 September 1918 [14]
    Meuse-Argonne Offensive Campaign
    		 26 September – 11 November 1918 [14]

    Notable personnel

    DSC:

    Prisoner of War[15]

    See also

    References

    Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to 28th Aero Squadron.
    1. ^
      ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0
      .
    2. ^ Series "H", Section "O", Volume 29, Weekly Statistical Reports of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
    3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Series "E", Volume 7, History of the 28th-43d Aero Squadrons. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
    4. ^ a b c Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, Series M, Volume 38, Compilation of Confirmed Victories and Losses of the AEF Air Service as of 26 May 1919
    5. ^ 28th Aero [email protected]
    6. ^ "Maurer, Maurer (1978), The US Air Service in World War I, The Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF Washington" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
    7. ^ a b Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the First World War, Volume 3, Part 3, Center of Military History, United States Army, 1949 (1988 Reprint)
    8. ^ a b c d e AFHRA 28th Bomb Squadron lineage and history Archived 14 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
    9. ^ also known as His Majesty's Transport 2810 during her wartime service
    10. ^ This reassignment, or the move to Foucaucourt, have to be confirmed, because all 3rd PG's squadrons moved to Foucaucourt, whereas 2nd PG's ones stayed at Belrain Aerodrome...
    11. ^ a b Series "D", Weekly Statistical Reports of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
    12. ^ Series "O", Volume 22, Weekly Statistical Reports on progress of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
    13. ^ This comes from Maurer Maurer's "Combat Squadrons...", but the whole 3rd PG moved to Foucaucourt on 6 November, as the 28th Squadron, while 2rd PG stayed at Belrain until being demobilized early December
    14. ^ a b c d e f g h United States War Department (1920), Battle Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium and Italy, 1917–1919, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1920
    15. ^ "Military Times Hall of Valor Search, 28th Aero Squadron". Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
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