85th Aero Squadron
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De Haviland DH-4 |
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Second Army Observation Group
IV Corps Observation Group Western Front, France: 25 October – 11 November 1918[2]
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The 85th Aero Squadron was an
Initially assigned as an Army Observation Squadron to perform long-range strategic reconnaissance behind enemy lines, it was instead designated as a Corps Observation Squadron, performing short-range, tactical reconnaissance over the VI Corps,
The squadron saw limited combat, and with Second Army's planned offensive drive on
There is no modern United States Air Force unit that shares its lineage and history.[1][4]
History
Origins
The 85th Aero Squadron was organized on 17 August 1917 at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. The squadron was organized from 150 recruits, which entered the Army at Angel Island, San Francisco, California. Practically all of the recruits were from Northern California. After being processed, the squadron was transferred to Scott Field, Belleville, Illinois on 21 September. During its stay at Scott Field, the men received indoctrination training for soldiering and received initial training as aircraft mechanics.[1]
The squadron left Scott Field on 2 February 1918, proceeding to Garden City, Long Island, New York where it was assigned to the Aviation Concentration Camp awaiting transport for overseas duty. The overseas movement to Europe was made from New York Harbor, Pier 54, with the squadron being assigned to the RMS Olympic. The ship embarked on 25 February unescorted, its speed protecting it from submarine attacks. Two German submarines were sighted but no attacks were made. The ship reached Liverpool, England, on 5 March 1918.[1]
Training in England
The 85th disembarked the ship the next day and marched to the Liverpool railway station where a train took them to
The squadron departed Harlaxton on 1 September 1918, and traveled to the
Combat on the Western Front
Orders were received to move to
Third Army of occupation
With the end of hostilities, the squadron first moved to the 2d Air Instructional Center at Tours Aerodrome on 24 November, where the squadron was called upon to cover 45 sq. miles of the Hindenburg Line with aerial photography. The squadron photographed 8 of the 11 Metz forts & photographed everything on the surface of the ground.[6]
After the Hindenburg line was photographed, the 85th remained at Tours until the Second Army Air Service was demobilized on 15 April 1919. It then was assigned to
Demobilization
On 13 June 1919 orders were received from Third Army for the squadron to report to the 1st Air Depot,
Personnel at Colombey were subsequently assigned to the commanding general, services of supply, and ordered to report to the staging camp at
Lineage
- Organized as 85th Aero Squadron on 17 August 1917
- Re-designated: 85th Aero Squadron (Observation), October 1918
- Demobilized, 31 July 1919[1]
Assignments
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Stations
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Enemy aircraft flown for evaluation
- Evaluated Fokker D.VII, Pfalz D.XII, Halberstadt and Rumpler aircraft, 1919[1]
See also
- Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force
- List of American Aero Squadrons
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C. via http://www.fold3.com
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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 4 September 2013.
- ^ 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)
- ^ a b c Maurer, Maurer (1978), The US Air Service in World War I, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF
- ^ Section E, Volume 26, Supplemental Histories of the 25th-1102d Aero Squadrons, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C. via http://www.fold3.com
- ^ Series "P", Volume 1, History of Headquarters, Third Army Air Service. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.