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1 Aug 1918
First Lt. Oliver T Beauchamp, Charles B. Sands and Jason S. Hunt were killed in combat during this engagement and First Lts. Richard C. Martin, Clifford A. McElvain, and Arthur L. Whiton were shot down and taken prisoners. 1st Lt. Frederick I. Ordway was attached to the squadron for flying duty during the temporary shortage of qualified flight commanders.
HEADQUARTERS, 26th DIVISION AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCESJuly 31st, 1918. FROM: Commanding General TO: Commanding Officer, 1st Pursuit Group, A.E.F. 1. In the counteroffensive attack of the Sector Battle of the Marne, in which my Division, the 26th, participated from the 18th to the 25th of July and gained from 18 to 20 Kilometers and in which the 12th Observation Squadron, which was attached to my division, did such good work, your Group, the First, protected them and aided the division, and your personnel showed such interest and Gallantry that I take this occasion to express on behalf of the Division, to you and your command, both commissioned and enlisted, my thanks and congratulations. C. R. EDWARDS, Major General. |
"THE COMMANDANT OF THE VI ARMEE AERONAUTIQUE ADDRESSES HIS THANKS AND HIS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRST PURSUIT GROUP FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PROTECTION GIVEN ABOUT 11 H ON THE PHOTOGRAPHIC MISSION OF THE SECOND C.A.
HE ASKS THE COMMANDER OF THE FIRST PURSUIT GROUP TO LET HIM KNOW IF ALL PLANES WHICH WERE IN THE COMBAT IN THE REGION OF FERE-EN-TARDENOIS HAVE RETURNED.signed GERARD."
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Lieutenant Williams attacked the leader and was in turn attacked by the remaining two. The leader fell into a steep spiral but was not seen to crash. During the melee the pressure tank of Lieutenant Williams plane was pierced and he was forced to withdraw. Lieutenant Theose Tillinghast saw the Camel disappear into the clouds followed by the enemy scouts and also saw one enemy machine fall but did not see it crash. (The engagement was unconfirmed).
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The following damage was observed to be caused by this combined operation, a dump of petrol and oil was set on fire, which in turn set afire an ammunition dump; Six Fokker biplanes were set on fire on the ground and two others destroyed by direct hits from bombs; one large Gotha Hangar was set on fire and another Half destroyed by bombing. A living hut was set on fire and several hangars were seen to be smoldering as the result of phosphorus bombs having fallen upon them.
In spite of most of the machines taking part in the attack being hit at one time or another, all returned safely to the airdrome, favorable targets being attacked on the return. The 210th and 213th Squadrons attacked and then sat overhead for protection while the 17th put on the show and performed the acrobatics. Later it was revealed that 14 German aircraft had been destroyed in this action.
One of the 210th Squadron pilots on retiring from the mission reported having seen Lieutenant Todd chase a flying officer out of his machine and around a hangar then flying around to the other side, cut him off and shoot him down.
The damage done could never be accurately determined. Reports came in from Belgium and the British Army Intelligence when the British reached the vicinity of Bruges, that over one hundred and twenty soldier mechanics, and thirty officers and non-commissioned officer pilots had been killed, and about four anti-aircraft artillery units, protecting Varsennaere, completely wiped out in the raid.
This raid may well be considered as being the forerunner of modern attack aviation tactics inasmuch as that it showed the results which could be obtained by a coordinated well planned attack. During the raid Lieutenant L. J. Desson’s airplane was severely hit by machine gun fire and the gravity tank pierced. Lieutenant Desson was forced to put one finger in the hole in the gravity tank and use the other hand to operate the wobble pump, remarking on arrival, "Well, I pumped her all the way home." 14 airplanes confirmed to credit of squadron by Royal Air Force Intelligence Communiqué, October 20th.
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
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27th - One protection patrol of eleven planes, First Lieutenant Ruliff Nevius killed in crash at take-off 17:15. Second Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr. destroyed enemy Fokker near Soissons (unconfirmed). Second Lieutenant Nathan J. Lustig, Ordnance Department, assigned.
27th - For making an unauthorized flight over the lines without the protection of a formation, Second Lieutenant Frank T. Luke, Jr., was grounded for a period of three days during which time he was to act as airdrome officer between the hours of 4:00 to 20:00 continuously.
At about 15:50 Lieutenants G. W. Goodnow, Floyd M. Showalter, George T. Wise, Ralph W. Snoke, William D. Tipton, R. D. Williams, George D. Wicks, F. A. Dixon and Merton Campbell dropped 15 bombs and machine gunned transport of eight lorries halted on crossroads 57 c N 24, also firing about 1400 rounds on same lorry with many direct hits. Lorries were completely destroyed. Lieutenant Showalter fired about 200 rounds on a balloon on ground without result, Lieutenant Wise fired on half a company of Infantry marching on a side road scattering them with several casualties, and then attacked machine gun emplacement near Eaucourt putting it out of action. Lieutenant R. D. Williams severely wounded in back by bullet which pierced his petrol tank. He was forced to plug the hole in the petrol tank by using his finger and on attempting a landing on the airdrome of the 3rd Squadron near Gengoult crashed sustaining further injuries. Lieutenant Wicks crashed while attempting a forced landing near Auxi-le-Chateau but escaped severe injuries. First Lieutenant Merton Campbell killed in action near Baupaume when flight of fourteen Fokkers attacked squadron while returning to airdrome.
Lieutenants Goodnow and Showalter dropped bombs and fired 200 rounds into a stranded transport on Baupaume-Cambrai road at 15:15 and fired 200 rounds into balloon on ground at 57 C H 22 (confirmed as a kite balloon by RAF Communiqe 21, August 24th).
Lieutenants Snoke and Showalter dropped 8 bombs and machine-gunned horse transport going southeast near Le Transley about 18:30 killing many men and horses. Lieutenants Tipton and Wicks dropped two bombs and fired 900 rounds into a transport of fifty lorries and three big guns on Baupaume Cambrai road at 19:10 destroying four lorries and blocking road, forcing other lorries to detour around the ones destroyed. Lieutenants Todd and Dixon dropped eight bombs and fired 200 rounds into transport in town of Vaulx Vraucourt at 19:45 and continued to strafe enemy positions in town until a flight of seven Fokkers appeared above forcing them to run for home.
The center section struts of Lieutenant Snoke’s machine were badly shot by machine gun fire from the enemy formation and this led to the now famous case of "Wires, RAF, Cross-bracing, center section, upper" which on all the machines on the strength of the 17th Aero Squadron were shorter than the "Mobilization Tables" showed them to be, or than any the Park or Depots possessed. Wires measured and remeasured. Twenty-seven and a half inches from thread to thread. Wing was incredulous. "If they are 27-1/2 inches we’ll get them for you but you had better be sure that all your wires are 27-1/2 inches long or there will be trouble." The Commanding Officer and the Adjutant climbed over all the ships measuring the wires in question. "27 ½ inches," shouted the Commanding Officer. "Twenty-seven and one-half inches" echoed the Adjutant, delighted to have something on Wing. The whole truth of the matter was that the discrepancy in length of wires was made known only after the patrol returned from a mission. Both Lieutenant Wise and Williams’ ships practically shot apart and with the center section cross-bracing wires cut away by bullets that must have passed within an inch of each pilot’s head. Until this experience no one had ever thought of measuring a center section wire.
During the engagement on the patrol of the afternoon, Lieutenant Goodnow fired on five Fokkers and was sure that he had shot down at least three, none were ever confirmed. Lieutenant F. A. Dixon destroyed two Fokkers in the melee (confirmed by RAF Communique 22, August 28th).
30 Aug 1918
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19 August, 1918. TO: General Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force, British Expeditionary Forces. RE: 17th U.S. Aero Squadron I should be glad if you would convey to Lieutenant Colonel Cunningham, DFC, the officers and men of the 65th Wing, R.A.F. an expression of my appreciation of the very good work done by them during the last month whilst cooperating with the 5th Group. No. 211 Squadron has been particularly successful in their daylight attacks on Bruges docks and shipping and the 17th American Squadron also cooperated in the low bombing attack on Varsennaere Aerodrome. In addition they have destroyed a lot of enemy machines. A. BOYLE, Chief of Staff, For the Vice-Admiral commanding. |
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30 August, 1918. TO: Officer Commanding No. 65 Wing, Royal Air Force, RE: 17th U.S. Aero Squadron 1. I would very much like to express in writing the gratitude felt both by myself and the flying personnel under my command for the exceptionally fine escort work done by the above squadron when escorting the bomb raids on Bruges Docks carried out by this Squadron. 2. "We are all agreed that No.17 Squadron was escorting our raids we had nothing to fear, from enemy aircraft. Although it was often imperative to fly out to sea and attack from East of the Target, thus making it a very long trip over the lines, nevertheless, the 17 U.S. Squadron always stuck to us. On one or two occasions a machine of ours would straggle owing to engine trouble, but these machines had no need to fear attacking enemy aircraft as some of the escorting machines would always look after the straggler. 3. On many occasions enemy aircraft attempted to attack our bombing machines over the target but they were never successful owing to the excellent escort. 4. Finally I can only say that I do not consider that any squadron in France would have supplied a better escort than No. 17 U.S. Aero Squadron. G. R. M. REID, Major, Royal Air Force. Commanding No. 211 Squadron. |
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN
EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
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Battle Orders No. 1, First Pursuit Wing indicated that the enemy was losing ground, personnel and material at all points of the front on which the allied armies were attacking. On the front of the First Army he was holding a lines from Pont-sur-Seille - St. Mihiel - Fresnos-en-Woevre - Chatillon. The enemy air strength was estimated at 150 pursuit, 120 reconnaissance and 25 battle planes opposing the First Army. The strength of his ground troops was placed at about seven divisions with front three to five divisions in reserve. The indications were that the morale of the troops opposing First Army was low and apparently approaching the breaking point. The First Army was to attack at 5:00 on September 12th along the entire line.
Instructions to the Air Service were "The Air Service will take the offensive at all points with the objective of destroying the enemys air service, attacking his troops on the ground and protecting our own air and ground troops." The First Pursuit Wing was detailed to cover the front PONT-SUR-SEILLE to ST. MICHIEL and establish an absolute barrage against enemy aviation and continuous attacks against enemy balloon positions. One Pursuit Group loaded with bombs was held in reserve for the purpose of attack on hostile troops or convoys on the ground, continuously on alert in order to leave the ground within fifteen minutes of the receipt of the order. The First Pursuit Group, operating as an independent Air unit under direct orders from the First Army, was ordered to cover the front from Chatillon sous les Cotes to St. Michiel and attack hostile balloon positions at the same time protecting all allied reconnaissance operating in the sector.
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27th - Second Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr., destroyed 1 balloon near Marieulles 10:05 (confirmed) and did not return to Rembercourt until 9:30 on the 13th. First Lieutenant Wehner shot down balloon near Montsec (unconfirmed).
27th - Lieutenants Dawson, Luke, and Lennon destroyed balloon near Boinville (confirmed) and Lieutenant Clapp destroyed Fokker north of Verdun (unconfirmed). Lieutenant Wehner destroyed two blue-green Fokkers at Barcq and Lieutenant Luke destroyed enemy balloon in vicinity of Buzy (all confirmed).
27th - A patrol of eight planes at 10:45 to 12:05 with orders to destroy balloon at Etain, continued to lose planes until only Lieutenants Luke and Hoover were left when the flight reached Etain, and immediately upon attacking the balloon it was pulled down. Archie fire was very heavy about the balloon and both planes were badly shot up. Six Fokkers about 500 feet above the patrol from the time of take-off but did not attack.
Lieutenant Wehner departed airdrome 15:50 to destroy balloon at Barcq. He attacked the Fokker protecting the balloon and brought it down (confirmed), then brought down the balloon (confirmed). On his return he observed an allied reconnaissance plane being attacked by eight Fokkers, he dove through the Fokker flight and routed it and escorted the reconnaissance plane back to its airdrome. Lieutenant Luke destroyed enemy balloon at Boinville and a second balloon near Bois-de-Hingry (confirmed September 15th and 26th), and Lieutenant Wehner destroyed balloon NE of Verdun near Spincourt 18:00 (unconfirmed).
Lieutenant Luke destroyed balloon in vicinity of Chaumont but did not return until 12:45 on September 16th, landing at French airdrome near Agars 21 :30.
27th - Second Lieutenant Luke destroyed balloon near Romagne 19:30 (confirmed) and Luke and Lieutenant Wehner dove through terrific antiaircraft and ground machine gun fire near Reveille to destroy a balloon which had been hauled down into its bed on their approach (confirmed). Lieutenant Wehner destroyed balloon near Mangiennes 19:45 (confirmed).
First Lieutenant Samual Colton and R. A. Rowland assigned.
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27th - Lieutenant Hudson had forced landing at Erize-le-Petite, while returning from patrol and completely demolished airplane. Lieutenant Luke and Wehner destroyed three balloons in the vicinity of Sabenville (confirmed) and were attacked by a patrol of Fokkers. Lieutenant Wehner was killed in combat and Lieutenant Luke, succeeded in destroying three of the Fokkers (confirmed) and did not return to the airdrome at Rembercourt until 21:15, September 19th, when he made a perfect landing on the airdrome in total darkness which was sensational in view of the fact that the airdrome was pock-marked with shell holes. Lieutenant Vasconcelles destroyed a Fokker near Verdun (confirmed).
94th - The 94th Squadron entertained at dinner for Lieutenant Luke, who by virtue of his surprising victories in the preceding seven days had become the leading American Ace. Lieutenant Luke arrived at the airdrome, having been gone since 18:00 September 18th, in time to share the entertainment provided by Elizabeth Brice, Lois Meredith, Bill Morrissey and Tommy Gray, all favorites of the American Stage.
After withdrawing from this combat, and while returning to the home airdrome, the squadron attacked a Halberstadt observation machine and was attacked by a flight of six Fokkers. During this engagement Second Lieutenant Gerald P. Thomas was killed and First Lieutenant Theose Tillinghast was shot down and made prisoner. Lieutenant Vaughn, Burdick and Knotts were sent to the airdrome of the 65th British Wing, and were there decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross by General Byng, Commander of Aviation, British Expeditionary Forces.
This Blue-tailed squadron later in the day jumped the 148th Aero Squadron and the 148th scored eight victories over them, the Blue-tail squadron disappearing from the front and was never again seen on the western front. While returning from the combat Lieutenant Knotts fired 100 rounds into troops and about 500 rounds into two lorries on the Baupaume-Cambrai Road. At 15:50 Lieutenant Knotts while flying low over the lines went down to about 800 feet and fired at an ammunition dump on the side road near Cambrai. The explosion of this dump was seen by ground officers at the Advanced Landing Field of the 58th Squadron RAF and by Lieutenant Elliott White Springs of the 148th Squadron.
"Percentage of smashed aviation material on our squadrons at the front running many times in excess of French losses. Under present conditions when we are fighting for every plane we get care must be taken otherwise you will have squadrons on the front without planes to flight. Please get this information out to all squadron commanders and state that replacements at the present rate cannot continue - DUNWOODY"The First Pursuit Group having been in the thick of all the aerial combat work naturally had suffered severe losses but in comparison to number of victories gained and the losses of similar units of the American Forces the Group’s replacements was considerably lower. Battle Orders of the First Army indicated the allied offensive of the Meuse-Argonne would commence on September 26th. The enemy air strength remained at approximately the same as the end of the battle of St. Mihiel and enemy ground forces opposed to the First Army were estimated at approximately six to ten divisions, of which five divisions were between the Meuse and Aisne Rivers. His reserves were estimated at about Thirteen divisions largely between the Meuse and Moselle Rivers
27th - A patrol by Lieutenant White, Vasconcelles and Hudson to destroy balloons along the Moselle River rested in Lieutenant Vasconcelles destroying one balloon was confirmed and four which were not confirmed. Lieutenant Hoover destroyed Fokker near Forge unconfimed while covering the attack on the balloon at that place. In the later patrol Lieutenant Stout had an indecisive combat with a Fokker; Lieutenant Dawson shot down a Fokker between Charry and Forges (confirmed) and Lieutenant Roberts destroyed a bi-place near Romagne (confirmed Lieutenant Luke destroyed a Fokker near Consenvoye (unconfirmed) and Lieutenant Lyman destroyed a balloon near Etain (unconfirmed). Second Lieutenant Ivan A. Roberts was killed in combat near Consenvoye 18:40 and Lieutenant Nicholson destroyed a Rumpler bi-place near Consenvoye and Forges 18:30 (unconfirmed).
GROUP - Operations report of the First Army for the day, carried the following report:
"A unique mission for the purpose of destroying enemy balloons was executed by Lieutenant Wehner and Lieutenant Luke of the First Pursuit Group in the late evening of the 17th (ed. note - 16th), having made previous arrangement for landing on their airdrome after dark, these pilots left the field at dusk proceeding over the line of the enemy balloons. Within a period of thirty-five minutes three enemy balloons were destroyed by these pilots and because of the late hour, the flames could be seen from the First Pursuit Group airdrome. This exploit brings the total number of balloons destroyed by Lieutenant Luke within the last three days to nine."
Several ships of the Group collided in the air and on the ground during night flying practice this date, but no losses of personnel were a result of these collision although four airplanes were temporarily placed out of commission due to the accidents and all pilots of the Group were taught a lesson in caution as a result of these needless flying accidents.
While from this patrol Lieutenant Burdick attacked a LVG two seater and was in turn attacked by two Fokkers, one of which he shot down in flames and then turned on other Fokker which was diving after Lieutenant Wicks. His fire on this Fokker caused the Fokker to continue diving right on into the ground (two Fokkers confirmed by RAF Communique 26, September 28th). Lieutenant Vaughn destroyed the LVG, after Lieutenant Burdick had been forced to abandon the combat (confirmed by Letter 13 WP 54th Company, 13th Wing RAF October 12th). During the course of the combat Lieutenant Wicks was driven down to the ground and stove in the leading edge of his lower right wing, attempting to get away from the Fokker which was following him down.
Lieutenant Knotts observed a German staff car proceeding through Naves and dove on it, forcing it out on the open road where he machine-gunned the car, going faster and faster until it turned over on its side and the occupants spilled out. All the occupants except one did not move and the one survivor after a hurried look around, ran through a field with Lieutenant Knotts pursuing him in the airplane and firing on him until he dropped apparently dead.
27th - During patrol of nine planes from 6:30 to 8:15 Lieutenant Stewart and Clapp were forced to return on account of engine trouble and Lieutenant Rucker was forced down near Verdun and did not return until 11:05. Lieutenant McCubbin had a forced landing near Verdun and did not return until 17:00. Lieutenant Luke destroyed a balloon near Bantheville and St. Georges 18:50 (confirmed) to provide his fourteenth victory.
During six plane patrol from 14:30 to 15:40, Lieutenant Penrose V. Stout failed to get off with the patrol but left at 15:00 to catch up with the flight and ran into five Fokkers near Charney. He managed to fight his way through, although he was forced lower and lower until infantry riflemen were firing on him and ground machine guns badly shot his plane. He landed at Verdun with serious wounds in his shoulder and lungs. Lieutenants Clapp and Rowland were forced to return to the airdrome on account of engine trouble. Lieutenant Jerry Vasconcelles at the advanced field destroyed bi-place Rumpler near Charey (confirmed) to provide his sixth official victory. Lieutenant Robert H. Donaldson was transferred to Evacuation hospital No. 9, the result of wounds received in combat over Verdun.
27th - Second Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr., from 17:15 to 18:30 attacked three balloons in the vicinity of Avecourt, gaining his 15th, 16th and 17th victories. On completion of the mission he landed at Riecourt and never again returned to the squadron.
During a patrol against enemy low planes from 16:00 to 17:00 Lieutenant Nicholson and Rucker were forced down in the vicinity of Montfaucon. Lieutenant France Q. Wilson was transferred to Air Service, First Army and departed for General Mitchell’s headquarters.
27th - First Lieutenant Corliss C. Moseley, Byron C. Bilderback and Second Lieutenants Hollis Cross, Harry L. Land and Frederick Little assigned.
Lieutenant Luke left Riecourt late during the afternoon and immediately after taking off destroyed the balloon on the German lines directly opposite the airdrome, which was confirmed as his 18th and last victory. During the course of this flight he was shot down in combat near Montlainville and killed. (ed. note - All other sources show Luke died on Sept. 29.)
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Another of the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series. Organized by national air service (British, French, U.S), the book briefly summarizes the flying career of all 117 American fliers who achieved ace status with the three Allied powers. Also includes descriptions and thirty-six colorful profile plates of their airplanes: Spad VII, Nieuport 11, Sopwith Camel, Sopwith Dolphin, R.A.F. SE5a, Nieuport 28, and Spad XIII. Many original period photos - formal portraits of the aces, aircraft lined up wingtip to wingtip, and some cockpit close-ups showing Vickers machine guns. Two lengthy chapters on aces in British and French service. The book covers many aces with fewer than 15 kills, so it goes beyond the famous aces like Luke and Rickenbacker. Appendices include U.S. Air Service Aces by Squadron and American Aces with British Squadrons. |
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