WWI 90th Aero Squadron History

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THE NINETIETH AERO
SQUADRON
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

A History oj Its Activities During


the World War, from Its Formation
to Its Return to the United States

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY


LELAND M. CARVER, GUSTAF A. LINDSTROM
A. T. FOSTER

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY


E.HAROLD GREIST
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7
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COPYRIGHT 1920
E. GREIST
H.
HINSDALE. ILL.

OCT -9 1320

e)CI,A597719
n IPIll^
'# Our Loved Comrades
who gave their all, and
whose example and memory
inspired the rest of us to
carry on —
— this hook is dedicated.
THE
Order
90th Aero Squadron was created by Special
104, Headquarters Kelley Field, South
San Antonio, Texas, on September 25, 1917. The
men in it were largely from two detachments; one
from Vancouver Barracks, Washington, which arrived
at Kelley Field August 18; another from Fort Leaven-
worth, Kansas, which arrived August 25. Both of
these detachments had been held from the date of
their arrival until September 25 under Recruit Camp
Headquarters as a Provisional Squadron. The day
after the forming of the Squadron, September 26,
1917, under Special Order 119, Headquarters Kelley
Field, Lieut. W. H. Y. Hackett took command. On
September 28, Lieut. J. J. Livingston, M.R.C., with
four enlisted men of the Medical Corps, were assigned
to the 90th. Lieutenant Livingston has ever since
been with the Squadron, save for the periods during
which he was on detached service at hospitals.
This completed the primary organization of the
enlisted part of the Squadron. Many changes were
to take place in the course of the next year, but the
foundation of the esprit, which was to be so great
a factor in the Squadron's success on the front, was
laid. Specialized training was necessary, but nearly all

were by trade expert mechanics, who had volunteered


for the work to which they had been assigned and
who were enthusiastic over the prospect of doing their
"bit" along the lines for which they were peculiarly
fitted. It might be taken as an augury of success and
as an indication of the adaptability of the 90th, that
at this time every State of the Union was represented
by one or more men.
On September 30, under command of Lieutenant
Hackett, the Squadron left San Antonio for Mineola,
Long where it arrived five days later. Good
Island,
order, good health and good spirits marked the whole
trip. On the night of October 5 the Squadron de-
trained, and early next morning hiked out to Field
No. 2 of the Aviation Mobilization Camp, where they
were quartered with the Headquarters of the First
Provisional Wing in Barracks No. 5. Here they
stayed for three weeks performing guard duty and
fatigue work, and carrying on the work of organi-
zation, equipment and preparation for overseas duty.
Recreation was provided in the form of frequent
twenty-four hour passes to New York City and other
towns in the neighborhood, so that the time did not
pass too slowly. It should be put on record that after
the 90th had departed from Mineola its example was
held up to succeeding squadrons as one worthy of
emulation.
About the middle of October rumors began to cir-
culate as to the early departure of the Squadron for
overseas duty, but it was not till the 26th of the month

10
that orders were received to pack up equipment and
to prepare for immediate departure. The following
day the Squadron entrained for Pier 54, North River,
and boarded H.M.S. ''Orduna." Two officers and
157 men were at this time on the Squadron roster.
The crossing of the Atlantic was uneventful. The
" Orduna "
proceeded alone to Halifax, where It picked
up seven other vessels and the convoy sailed together
October 31 for Liverpool. Lieutenant Hackett was
appointed Assistant Adjutant to Major Moynahan,
165th who commanded the troops on
Infantry,
board. The
quarters furnished the men were fairly
good, and only a few cases of "mal de mer" occurred
during the two weeks on the boat. An occasional
submarine alarm, which always proved to be false,
helped to while away the time. Guard duty, and two
daily inspections at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. were the only
other amusements.
On November 10 the "Orduna" moved into the
dock at Liverpool, welcomed by numerous British ships
in the harbor. Bands played, flags were run out, and
the entry of the convoy seemed like a celebration.
The troops were disembarked by three in the after-
noon, and the 90th marched through the streets to
the railroad station. It is safe to say that this first
glimpse of a British and these first welcomes
city,
from a people as whose ally we had come to fight,
made an impression which no man in the 90th will ever
forget.
No stop was made in Liverpool; a train was wait-
ing and the Squadron was carried on to Southampton,
and then given a march of an hour and a half to a
" Rest Camp." Here the men first tried the British
ration, and began to learn at first hand the hardships
of the submarine blockade.
On November 12 the Squadron crossed the Channel
on the transport " Prince George," arriving in Havre
early on the 13th, and marched at once to A.E.F.
Rest Camp No. 2. Here they remained several days
and the officers who had been temporarily attached
at New York, as well as six first-class sergeants, were
detached from the organization. On November 18
the 90th made the personal acquaintance of the famous
" Hommes 40, Chevaux 8 " box cars, entraining for
Colombey les Belles, northeast of Neufchateau and
south of Toul. After a long and tiresome trip, the
destination was reached during the night of Novem-
ber 20, and the next morning the men were billetted
In lofts scattered through the village.
It was now announced for the first time that the
90th was to do road and barracks construction work
for the time being. Naturally this came as a great
disappointment to all, as the great ambition of every-

one had been to get into a service squadron, and do


work on the front. However, the experience gained
in construction work would be valuable, and the time
could be profitably employed In fitting the right men
into the right places. was with these feelings that
It
officers and men set to work on the first job assigned,
the construction of roads through what was to become
the great American Aviation Field at Colombey.
This lasted the rest of the year. For the first three
months of 1918 the Squadron, together with the 88th
and 89th Squadrons, was to start the construction of

12
the barracks and hangars of the Colombey Field.
This was a piece of work of which the squadrons which
took part might well be proud, as the buildings were
erected with little delay in the very worst part of a par-
ticularly severe winter. The period of apprenticeship
was now passed and the 90th was designated as a
Service Squadron.
During this period of initiation to life in the A.E.F.
there were many incidents which the men will be glad
to remember in after years. On November 27, 1917,
Lieutenant Schauffler, who was destined to command
the Squadron during the greater part of its time at
the front, brought by aeroplane the first mail it had
received since leaving the States. That same night
the British Aviation Field at Ochey, near by, was
bombed, and the 90th saw from a distance a bit of
the war. Thanksgiving Day was, of course, a holiday,
and the 90th celebrated by beating the 2nd Engineers
at football by a score of 12-0. On December 5,
Colombey was treated to a German bombing raid, six
bombs being dropped, one of them a dud. The only
one which did much damage destroyed the house at
No. 6 Rue Jeanne d'Arc and injured two Americans
who were billetted there.
Christmas Day was observed in fitting manner. At
1 1 :30 A.M. the Squadron was formed at the Mess Hall

and marched to Post Headquarters. Here the Stars


and Stripes were unfurled. The Squadron then pa-
raded through the village to the music of the 364th
French Infantry, headed by Lieutenant Hackett.
Then came a promotion ceremony by which four new
sergeants, three corporals, and ten first-class privates

13
were created. The Christmas dinner, with roast tur-
key as the principal dish, was a merry meal, and in
the evening the Y. M. C. A. gave a musical entertain-
ment in which 90th men took a large part.
On April 13 Major Dunsworth succeeded Lieuten-
ant Hackett as Commanding Officer, as all Service
Squadrons at the front must be commanded by Flying
Officers. It is fitting here that a word of appreciation
should be given Lieutenant Hackett for his work with
the Squadron. He set the example of efficiency which
the 90th has always followed. Through his efforts
the personnel of the Squadron was picked and it was
under his guidance that the Squadron started its career.
His success in picking the Squadron was noteworthy,
and the numerous trips by land and water which were
made under his leadership went off most smoothly.
At the same time, by his fairness and firmness, he
made himself most popular with the men under his
command. After Major Dunsworth took command
Lieutenant Hackett remained with the Squadron as
Adjutant for four months. One thing which makes
him unique among the rest of the 90th is the fact
that he was the only one who was married while over-
seas. On October 1 he married an American girl who
was at that time living in Paris. Unfortunately, Lieu-
tenant Hackett had left the Squadron at that time and
none of the officers were able to get to his wedding
in Paris.
On April 15 the Squadron finally came into its own
as a Service Squadron. Fifteen French Sopwith obser-
vation planes arrived from Paris and six pilots were
assigned to the Squadron. These six, the first to fly for
the 90th, were: Lieuts. "Judge" Hill, who was later
shot down behind the German lines; "Ernie" Giroux,
later shot down in flames; Cannon, Eaton, Jeffers, and
Sherry. They had all received their entire training
in the air in France. Jeffers, Cannon and Eaton were
honor students of the first Ground School class grad-
uated in the United States; Hill and Giroux came to
France in June, 1917, to join the Lafayette Escadrille,
but enlisted instead in the American Air Service on
arrival; "Madame" Sherry enlisted in Paris, having
served previously as volunteer with the Transport Sec-
tion of the American Field Service with the French
armies.
No flying was done for the few days after the
first

arrival of the Sopwiths, but the mechanics were as-


signed to their respective planes and spent the time
in studying their construction. On April 19 the
Squadron moved to Amanty, north of Neufchateau,
where the Observation Training Center of the 1st
Corps was located. Here it was engaged in training
flights. The flying personnel was changing constantly,
pilots and observers being attached for a short time
and then transferred to chasse or bombing squadrons.
Naturally the breakage of planes was considerable, as
most of the pilots had been trained on Nieuports, and
the change to the Sopwiths proved difficult. No one,
however, was seriously injured.
Meantime, the organization of the Squadron as a
fighting unit was continuing. On May 7 Lieutenant
Looney joined as Supply Officer, a graduate of the
Ground Officers' Training School at Kelley Field;
Lieutenant O'Connor, Radio Officer, arrived May 13
from the Radio School at College Park, Maryland.
Lieutenant Lacy reported on June 6 as Armament
Officer after training at the Springfield Armory.
On May 18 the following pilots reported for duty:
Lieutenants Cowle, Conover, Ellis, Greist, Livingston,
Neidecker, Patterson, Pierson, Simpson, White, Free-
man, Merz, Brewer, Lee, Pike, and Hathaway.
Early in June the following observers reported Lieu- :

tenants Adams, Francis, Maynor, Grainger, Bolt, Vin-


son, Blekre, Hendricks, Tillman, Shuss, Sherrick, Har-
rison, Lowe, Walden, and Sullivan, while Lieutenant
Lockwood reported for duty as Engineering Officer,
after having served for some time in that capacity at
Field Third Aviation Instruction Center.
7,

On June 13 the Squadron received its first assign-


ment to active duty, moving to Ourches, fifteen
kilometers due west of Toul, on the Meuse River,
the station of the First Corps Observation Group.
Like many divisions of Infantry the Squadron was
to do its first real work in the famous "American"
sector, which at that time extended from Apremont,
east of St, Mihiel, to Remenauville, west of the Mo-
selle. Here we were destined to remain for some
time, from the air, every stick and stone of the
till,

sector became familiar to the pilots and observers, and


the famous "V" in the woods north of Flirey was
to direct many a pilot toward home and safety after
over the lines.
his first trip
The misson to go over the lines was a general
first

reconnaissance of the sector on June 16th by a forma-


tion consisting of Major Dunsworth, pilot, with Lieu-
tenant Adams, observer, in No. 13, leading; Lieu-

16
tenant White, pilot, with Lieutenant Hendricks,
observer, in No. 7, and Lieutenant Simpson, pilot, with
Captain Goss, observer, inNo. 15. The reconnais-
sance covered the sector from Apremont to Xivray;
the first compliments of the Hun to the 90th were
received in the shape of an Archie barrage, which
pierced Lieutenant White's plane in several places.
Anti-aircraft fire over Apremont was reported to be
particularly accurate by all, a note which became a
stock feature of observers' reports in the succeeding
months.
Later In the day another formation went out, led
by Lieutenant Greist, in plane No. 4, with Lieutenant
Vinson as observer; Lieutenant Neidecker, pilot, with
Lieutenant Tillman, observer, in No. 5 Lieutenants ;

Patterson and Blekre, in No. 14; Lieutenants Ellis and


Shuss, in No. 17, and Lieutenants Pierson and Maynor,
in No. 6. The following day six missions were car-
ried out over the sector, but for the rest of the month
little work was done, as the sector was quiet and there
were three squadrons to divide the work.
On June 20 Lieut. W. G. Schauffler took command,
vice Major Dunsworth, who left to take a course in
aerial gunnery at Caseaux. This appointment was
made permanent when Major Dunsworth was assigned
in his absence to the command of the 96th Aero Squad-

ron. Lieutenant Schauffler came to the 90th from the


First Observation Squadron. With this squadron he
had seen service on the Mexican border and had the
honor of being the first pilot of an American squadron
to fly over the front. Other important additions to
the Squadron during this period were made by the

17
arrival of Lieutenant Young on June 19, Lieutenant
Rohrer on June 26, and Lieutenants Bovard and Kins-
ley on July 3.
On June 25 the first casualties occurred in the Squad-
ron, caused by an accident. Lieutenants Hathaway,
pilot, and Maynor, observer, started at 8 A.M. on a
reconnaissance mission. Hardly had they left the field
when, from an altitude of 200 meters, their plane went
into a vrille and dove into the ground with full motor.
Both were killed instantly. The funeral was held at
Sebastopol, near Toul, and was attended by all. Lieu-
tenants Pierson and Harrison circled overhead in a
plane and at the close of the service dropped flowers
on the grave.
yhe death of these two men, coming so soon after
the arrival of the Squadron on the front, was very
keenly felt. Both had been among the first in France,
and left a host of friends who will long remember
them.
Lieutenant Hathaway came
to France early in 1917
as a volunteer in the American Field Service. His
whole training in aviation was in France, beginning
with the French Caudron School at Tours, in the early
part of September. From this he graduated in the
October and went to the American School
latter part of
for Advanced Training at Issoudun. He left there
in January, 1918, to go to the American Observers
School at Tours, there assisting in the instruction of
observers, going from there directly to the front in
May, where he joined the 90th at Amanty.
Lieutenant Maynor arrived in France in September,
1917, and after some weeks at an Artillery School, was
XivRAV (^SV. Mihiel Sector.
assigned to the 101st Field Artillery. He was a mem-
ber of the first class in the school for aerial observers
at Tours, which began work on January 14, 1918.
After graduating, on February 22, he proceeded to
the First Corps Observation Training Center at
Amanty. From there he was ordered to a French
Observation Squadron with the Eighth Army. After
several weeks there, he took the course in aerial gun-
nery at Cazeaux, and on its completion reported for
duty with the 90th.
The Fourth of July was fittingly celebrated in sev-
eral ways; a flag raising was held; Secretary Walker
of the Y. M. C. A. read the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and Lieutenant Mahan, Post Adjutant,
delivered an address. Lieutenant Schauffler then went
out in a biplane Spad to celebrate in the air, accom-
panied by Lieutenant Harrison. They recalled the
meaning of the day to the Germans by strafing several
towns, and on the way home joined in the celebrations
which were being held by the French in Toul, Com-
mercy and Void, flying just over the tree tops and
waving to the people in the streets below.
Other additions were made to the flying personnel
during this period. Lieutenant Bogle joined the
Squadron on July 4. On July 13 Lieutenants Parr,
Lindstrom, Borden, and Hayden, observers, arrived.
Lieutenant Carver, pilot, reported July 19, and Lieu-
Derby, observer, on the 23rd. On the 24th Lieu-
tenant Schauffler was suddenly taken ill and had to
be removed to the hospital. He was temporarily
replaced in command by Lieutenant Gallup, also of
the 1st Aero Squadron, who retained command till

19
September 15. Lieutenant Wallace joined the Squad-
ron on August 24, replacing Lieutenant Lockwood as
Engineering Officer, he becoming temporarily Trans-
portation Officer. Lieutenant Wallace had trained in
the Aviation Engineering School at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, and very soon after his arrival
with the 90th made a record for upkeep of motors and
planes which no other Squadron has ever surpassed.
On the departure of Lieutenant Hackett, Lieutenant
Lockwood was made Adjutant.
The work during July was the regular aerial work
for a Corps Squadron on a quiet sector. Two regular
reconnaissances were made each day and during good
weather photographic missions were carried out. The
90th was alone on the field and took care of all the
work assigned to the 4th Corps Observation Group.
The French Sopwiths, with which the Squadron did
all their early work, never proved very satisfactory on
the front. They were rather slow, and their elastic
construction never inspired a great deal of confidence.
Hence it was with great relief that the Squadron saw

the " Sops " being replaced with other ships, though at
first these latter were of several types, and made of
the 90th the strangest hybrid Squadron in the A.E.F.
Early in On July
July a few biplane Spads arrived.
19 the of the Salmsons arrived, piloted from Co-
first

lombey by Lieutenant Cowle, and it was rapidly fol-


lowed by others. Shortly afterward three Breguets
were assigned to us, so that on July 31 the Squadron
equipment included sixteen Salmsons, eight Sopwiths,
four Spads, and three Breguets. This was an assort-
ment which must have given many a German Intelli-
gence Officer some hard moments identifying.

20
The object of the Breguets was to give the Squadron
practice in night flying. This had been attempted in
Sopwiths, but had resulted only in the salvaging of
numerous machines. After the arrival of the Breguets
the experiment was once more undertaken, but without
success. The field was absolutely unsuited for any
such work. It was on top of a hill which sloped pre-
cipitously on all sides into deep valleys. Consequently,
in landing in the dark, there was a great tendency

to underestimate the slope, and a crash into the side


of the hill was the natural consequence. Fortunately,
no one was seriously hurt in this work; the worst
injuries were received by Major Anderson, who
received a cut on the face when he, with Lieutenant
Kirwan, Group Observation Officer, as observer,
crashed into the hill in landing. The only really suc-
cessful night flightwas made by Lieutenants Young and
Harrison, who went up with the idea of protecting the
field against bombing raids, and after staying up for
over an hour, made a good landing. After two of
the Breguets had been salvaged, the remaining one
was rescued by an order suspending the experimnt.
On the night of July 31, at about half past ten, the
90th was host to a small German bombing party. The
officersand men heard the planes overhead, and identi-
fied them as German by the sound of their motors,

which were suddenly cut, and the machines glided


down toward the field, heading toward the Spad
hangar. They dropped seven small bombs, three of
which landed within twenty feet of the hangars; but
by great good fortune did no damage beyond a few

21
holes In the and these were filled in before day-
field,

no photographic reconnaissance by
light in order that
the Germans would reveal how close they came to
accomplishing their end.
It was about this time that the division of the squad-
ron into was made. Lieutenants White, Greist,
flights
and Pierson were appointed Commanders of A, B, and
C Flights, respectively. At the same time the Flights
selected their colors: A Flight, white, probably in
compliment to its commander; B Flight, orange, and
C Flight, red.
On August 4 the first Infantry Contact mission was
assigned to the 90th, the work of which it was later
to do so much, and by which it gained its reputation
of being a "Shock Squadron." A *'coup de main"
by the Infantry was being carried out northeast of
Flirey. Lieutenants White and Sherrick were detailed
to carry out the mission at dawn and report on the
attainment of the objective four kilometers beyond the
old German lines. In spite of extremely bad weather
conditions, a contrary wind and low clouds with fre-
quent showers, the mission was quite successful, and
valuable information as to the progress of the raid
was brought back.
In the early part of August the 135th Aero Squadron
joined the 90th at Ourches, and for the balance of the
month the Corps work was split between the two
Squadrons. The 135th was the first Squadron on the
front with the American-built De Haviland
4's with
Liberty motors, and as such created considerable atten-
tion. Their first flight over the lines was on August
10. As they were new to the sector, they requested

22
Lieutenant White of the 90th to take the place of
one of their pilots who was ill, and to lead their forma-
tion. This he did. Weather conditions were unfav-
orable, and the formation broke up, but to Lieutenant
White belongs the distinction of having taken the first

Liberty over the active front.


In addition to the regular corps work which the
90th was doing, they carried out a considerable num-
ber of Infantry Contact patrols near Chaumont, taking
part in exercises with newly arrived divisions. A few
adjustments of artillery with French batteries in the
woods north of Boucq were also carried out.
On September 7 Lieutenants Lake, Burger, and
Grier joined the Squadron. They had served several
months with the French Caudron 46 Escadrille as
Machine Gunners and had flown on many protection
flights for daylight bombing raids. They had all been
decorated with the Croix de Guerre. Lieutenants
Hart, Broomfield, and Dorrance arrived from pilots'
school on the same day.
The first work of great importance which came to
the Squadron was its part in the operations which
resulted in the clearing of the St. Mihiel salent, Sep-
tember 12-14, 1918. The two weeks preceeding were
spent in much careful preparatory work. A great deal
of photographic work was done, among other missions
being the photographing of the lines from Apremont
to Limy at an altitude of 350 meters, by Lieutenant
Lindstrom, observer, and Lieutenant Carver, pilot.
Maps were prepared with great care and all was made
ready for "D" day and "H" hour. On September
12 the 90th had available for duty eighteen pilots,

23
thirteen observers, and three machine gunners. The
Squadron had twenty-five Salmsons on hand, all of
which were available for duty. The planes were all
armed with Vickers guns firing through the propeller for
the pilot, and two Lewis flexible guns for the observer,
these being mounted on a tourelle. Two days before
the attack each team was assigned to its particular duty
during the attack. Every man became absorbed in
studying his particular task. From then on, till " H"
hour arrived, the enthusiasm and earnest endeavor of
every man in the Squadron seemed to charge the
atmosphere with a spirit that spelled success. The
under current of enthusiasm revealed itself particularly
at the Squadron mess. The spirit of the 90th and its
determination to "do" was evidenced in the songs,
the toasts, and the general feeling of good-fellowship
which pervaded the atmosphere at mess. With such
a spirit success was bound to come.
The night of September 1 1 was one which will
always remain fixed in the memory of the flying offi-
cers; pilots and observers were called together about
8 P.M., as soon as it was definitely learned that the
attack would be made the next day. Major McNar-
ney, the Group Commander, gave the Group a few
last hints as to the methods to be used in their work.
Aviation, he said, was a very essential part of the
attack, and whatever the weather, the missions were
to be performed as long as it was physically possible
for the planes to take off. It was known that the

barrage was to be a particularly dense one, but there


must be no hesitation to go through it. From conver-
sation with French officers the impression had been

24
gained that Infantry contact was at best a hazardous
game; that any team that carried out more than one
was entitled to the greatest credit, and could have done
it only because favored by chance. As three trips
were scheduled for each man on the following day,
there seemed to be need of great good luck for the
Squadron to come through unscathed.
The day finally arrived and with it probably the
worst weather in which a Squadron ever attemped
to carry on major aerial operations. The first mis-
sion, an Infantry liaison — Lieutenant Rohrer, pilot,
with Lieutenant Vinson as observer — left the ground

at 5 :20 a.m., in spite of a high west wind and a ceiling


of about 300 meters. These conditions prevailed
throughout the greater part of the day, with low-
hanging, heavy clouds and intermittent, heavy showers.
The 90th was working with the famous 42nd or Rain-
bow Division, and throughout the course of the day's
advance faithfully recorded the progress made by the
Infantry, and was practically the only reliable liaison
between the advancing troops and the Division Head-
quarters.
As was to be expected, flying at such extremely low
altitudes,due to the clouds and rain, the 90th planes
were not to get through the day untouched. Early
in the day, Lieutenant Young, Pilot, and Lieutenant
Bogle, Observer, had the radiator of their plane
pierced by machine gun bullets fired from the ground,
while flying at an altitude of about 50 meters in the
vicinity of Thiaucourt. So near were they to crashing
behind the German lines that atone time, with the
wheels of the plane nearly on the ground, the German

25
Infantrymen ran In their direction, expecting the plane
to crash In a shell hole. However, Lieutenant Young
brought the plane back into friendly territory, finally
landing just behind the advancing American lines.
They at once delivered their information, and then,
making use of any transportation going toward the
Squadron, they made their way back in time for Lieu-
tenant Bogle to go up on another mission late in the
afternoon.
Lieutenant Kinsley, with Lieutenant Lowe, Ob-
server, had a similar experience while carrying out an
Infantry contract mission later In the day, but being
nearer to our lines when it happened. Lieutenant Kins-
ley was able to bring the plane back as far as Corps
Headquarters, where they landed and delivered their
information.
On September 12 the 90th made twenty-six sorties,
and in no case did a plane fail to carry out Is mission
successfully.
September 13, the second day of the attack, was
very much a repetition of the first day. The Infantry
continued to advance, attaining their forty-eight-hour
objective in twenty-seven hours, and the Squadron
planes reported the progress of the troops from hour
to hour.
In the attack the chief work of the Observers con-
sisted of finding and reporting to the rear the position
of our front line, the location of hostile strong points,
surveillance for enemy counter-attack, and the harass-
ing of the retreating enemy by machine gun fire.
September 15 Lieutenant Schaufller returned from
the hospital and assumed command.

26
The following letters of appreciation were received
by the Squadron as a result of the satisfactory work
done by the Squadron during the attack:

HEADQUARTERS 67th F. A. BRIGADE


American Expeditionary Forces
France
September 15, 1918.
FROM : The Adjutant.
TO : Commanding Officer, 90th Aero Squadron, 4th
Obs. Group.
SUBJECT: Recent Operations.
1. The Brigade Commander directs me to express to you
his appreciation of the efficient service of your Squadron in

connection with this Brigade during the recent operations in


the St. Mihiel salient. The service of your command has been
most efficient and satisfactory.

C. H. NANCE,
Major, F. A., U. S. A.

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES


September 15, 1918.

FROM Commanding General, 42nd Division.


TO Chief of Air Service, Amer. E. F.
SUBJECT Expression of Appreciation.
1. It is desired to express appreciation of the work done by
the 90th Aero Squadron, 4th Corps, Observation Group, dur-
ing the recent operations. This Squadron, continually on duty,
rendered most excellent service to the Division in furnishing
valuable information promptly with regard to the advance made
by our own elements and movements of enemy forces; also in
regulating our artillery fire and the spotting of fugitive targets.

(Signed) CHAS. T. MENOHER,


Major General, U. S. A.

27
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
Office of Chief of Air Service
September 25, 1918.
FROM : C A. S.

TO : Commanding Officer, 90th Aero Squadron


(Through C. A. S., 4th Corps).
SUBJECT: Appreciation.
1. I take great pleasure in transmitting to you a letter of
appreciation from the Commanding General, 42nd Division, for
the excellent work done by your Squadron during the recent
operations.
2. This appreciation may have already reached you, but the
Chief of the Air Service takes great pleasure in adding his
appreciation to that of the Commanding General, 42nd Divi-
sion, and in thanking you and the officers and men under your
command for the fine part you and they have played in the

recent operations. By direction of the C. A. S.,

H. C. WHITEHEAD,
Colonel, A. S.

*****
HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE
4th Army Corps
October 1, 1918.

FROM : Chief of Air Service, 4th Army Corps.


TO : Commanding Officer, 90th Aero Squadron
(Through C. O. Observation Group, 3rd
Army Corps).
SUBJECT: Appreciation.
1. I wish to forward the inclosed letter of appreciation with
my congratulations. It is a great pleasure to command units
which conduct themselves as the 90th did during the St. Mihiel
operations. (Signed) H. B. ANDERSON,
Major, Air Service, U. S. A.

28
From September 15 to 20 the Squadron made sev-
eral daily reconnaissances of its sector and carried out
several photographic missions. On September 13
Lieutenant Carver, Pilot, and Lieutenant LIndstrom,
Observer, took oblique views of the various towns in
the 42nd Division's sector of the salient, and on Sep-
tember 15 photographed the Hindenburg Line from
Rembercourt to the Lac de La Chaussee, both missions
being carried out from an altitude of 300 meters.
On September 16 Lieutenant Pierson, Pilot, and Lieu-
tenant Hayden, Observer, although harassed by intense
Archie fire, photographed the Hindenburg Line and
territory in the rear of the German lines. On Sep-
tember 14 Lieutenant Conover, Pilot, and Lieutenant
Lindstrom, Observer, started on a photo mission which
covered the territory in the rear of the lines between
Rembercourt and La Chausse. They started out with
chasse protection, but forsome reason these planes soon
became separated from them; nevertheless, they con-
tinued the mission and completed it successfully.
On September 20 the Squadron moved from Ourches
to Souilly, southwest of Verdun, transferring from the
4th Corps to the 3rd Corps, First Army. With this
it was to work during the Argonne-Meuse offensive,

which terminated only with the armistice. In spite


of the long distance which the Squadron moved, there
was no great delay in activity, and in a day or so the
Squadron was operating on the new sector. From
September 22 to 26 the Squadron made only short
reconnaissance flights back of the American lines to
acquaint the flying personnel with the new sector.
This was in order that the enemy might not notice

29
increased aerial activity on the sector and foresee the
coming attack.
On September 24 Captain Foster, and Lieutenants
Cutter, Foster, and Elliott, joined the Squadron. As
there were then no vacancies In the teams, they were
left temporarily without definite assignments.
The American First Army struck the first blow of
the Argonne-Meuse offensive on the morning of Sep-
tember 26, and offensive operations continued almost
without cessation until November 11. At the start
the 90th was operating with two divisions of the 3rd
Corps, but on October 11, one-half of the Squadron
was assigned to duty with the 17th French Corps on
the east bank of the Meuse. The Squadron continued
to operate from the airdrome at Souilly, under orders
of the Third Observation Group, Captain Littauer
commanding.
The Squadron worked with the 80th Division from
September 26 to October 11 with the 33rd from Sep-
;

tember 26 to October 22; on the west bank of the


Meuse. On October 11 the 5th Division relieved the
80th and we continued our work with It. On October
22 the Squadron was attached to the 90th Division,
on the west bank of the Meuse, and In the neighbor-
hood of Romagne and eastward. In place of the 5th
Division. Till October 22 the Squadron worked with
the 29th Division on the east bank of the Meuse, until
this Division was relieved by the 79th, with whom
work was continued until the cessation of hostilities.
The Squadron also continued work with the 90th Divi-
sion until November 11.
During this time the closest possible relations were

30
CuNEL {Argonne-Meuse Sector)
Mine Craters {Argonne Forest)
maintained between the Squadron and the Divisions
with which it was working, by the Squadron's liaison

officers maintained at Divisional Headquarters. This


was an experiment never tried before September 12,
and was to improve the understanding between the
Aviation and the Line. It had been found that line
officersdid not understand the nature of aerial work,
and that communication between Divisions and their
supporting Squadrons was often too slow. Lieutenant
Frances and Lieutenant Vinson eventually became our
liaison officers. They remained constantly at the
Headquarters of the Divisions with which we were
working, reporting daily to the Squadron Operations
Officer by telephone, and rendered invaluable aid in
maintaining close relations between the units.
The 3rd Corps Group at the same time established
a Liaison School for the officers of the Divisions with
which it was working. Detachments from the 5th,
33rd, and 90th Divisions, each of about two hundred
men and several officers, spent in turn several days
with the group, the officers being entertained by the
90th Squadron during their stay. The trainingwas
doubtless of value and the intimacy which grew up
between the men on the ground and the men In the
air certainly increased the Interest each took In the
work of the other.
As in the St. Mlhiel operations, the Squadron had
to contend with very bad weather. Owing to the
season of the year and the proximity of the Meuse
River Valley, the atmospheric conditions were almost
always unfavorable. Heavy clouds and constant rains
increased the difficulty of reconnaissances. The ground
mists of the mornings, which seldom cleared up before
10 or 11 o'clock, added much to the difficulty. But
in spite visibility which made the average
of the poor
altitude which the planes could work about 300
at
meters, several daily reconnaissances were made. Fly-
ing at a very low altitude, the Squadron planes daily
penetrated the hostile lines to a depth of from three
to five kilometers, bringing back information as to
our own front line, position of hostile troops, batteries
in action, fires, and frequently a col-
explosions, etc.,

This is considered
lection of bullet holes in the plane.
probably the most dangerous and difficult work an
Observation Squadron has to perform.
Artillery work was not as successful as Infantry.
This was chiefly due to bad weather, which made it
impossible to attain the necessary altitude. When a
clear day would finally come, the batteries would per-
haps be moving or be found unable for some reason
or another to carry out the reglage desired.
October 17, Lieutenant Adams, who had been Oper-
ations Officer since June, left to become instructor in
the aerial gunnery school Jean du Mont.
at St.

When Lieutenant Adams came to the Squadron he had


had very little experience on the front, and the position
of Operations Officer is one which, more than any
other, requires an intimate knowledge of observation
work. In spite of this, he handled the mass of detail
constantly passing through his hands with accuracy
and dispatch, and never was any fault found with the
way in which the 90th did its work under his super-
intendence. It was said of "Mort" that he would
ask no one to undertake a mission which he would

32
^?5T'^^1
not undertake himself. And when a particularly dan-
gerous or difficult mission was in hand, it was usually
"Mort" who went out.
On October 22 Lieutenant Schauffler received his
Captaincy, and was at about the same time made Group
Commander. The Squadron was sorry to lose the
CO, with whom they had worked so long and harmoni-
ously over the front, but glad to see his merit recog-
nized by the promotion. As a pilot, Captain Schauffler
was second to none in skill and experience, and he
loved the game. While in the hospital in September,
he heard of the drive being made at St. Mihiel, and
though only convalescent at the time, he ran away
from the hospital, and arrived back at the Squadron
in time to take an active part in the drive. " Schauff "
was always most popular with the officers and men, and
besides looking after the numerous details incidental
to the running of the Squadron efficiently, he took an
active part in the performance of missions over the
lines.

Numerous other changes took place. Lieut. Norris


who had been with the Squadron since the
E. Pierson,
Amanty days, and who was thoroughly familiar with
the personnel, system and traditions of the Squadron,
assumed command. Captain Schauffler took with him
Lieutenant " Charlie " Lockwood, who had served the
Squadron both as Engineering Officer, Transportation
Officer,and Adjutant, and had made an eviable record
for zeal and efficiency in each capacity.He became
Group Adjutant. Lieutenants Tillman and Sherrick
also went with the Group as Operations Officer and
Assistant Operations Officer, respectively. Lieutenant
Walden left the Squadron to become Operations Offi-

cer of the 93rd Aero Squadron. Lieut. "Marine"


Lowe became Squadron Operations Officer, and Lieu-
tenant Hayden became Adjutant. Lieutenant White-
head joined the Squadron as Pilot.
October 21 marked a very sad event in the history
of the Squadron —
the death of Lieutenants Broom-
field and Cutter over the lines. They left the field
at about 10 a.m. on an Infantry contact mission, to
discover whether our troops had taken Hill 299, east
of the Bois de Rappes. They never returned, and
it is believed were shot down by machine gun fire from

the ground. In November, when our troops advanced,


the wrecked plane was found on Hill 299, and Lieu-
tenants Cutter and Broomfield were given a proper
burial at Souilly.
Lieutenant Broomfield had graduated from Tours
and Issoudun as Observation Pilot, and had taken the
aerial gunnery course at Cazeaux. While he had been
with the Squadron, he had frequently demonstrated
his skill as a pilot and his efficiency was proved by
his able management of the field at Ourches during the
St. Mihiel drive.
Lieutenant Cutter was in the Minnesota National
Guards at the outbreak of the war, and served as an
officer in the Artillery until detailed in January to take
the Aerial Observer's course at Fort Oklahoma.
Sill,

After graduating there he attended the Gunnery


School at Fort Worth, Texas; then, coming to France
in July, he took a short course at Tours in observation
and gunnery, and proceeded directly to the Squadron
at Souilly.

34
On October 28, Lieutenants Conover and Burger
were out on an Infantry contact mission, and were
diving on enemy machine gun nests which were hold-
ing up the advance of the Infantry, when machine gun
bullets from the ground severely wounded Lieutenant
Conover in the knee. In spite of this, he flew the
plane back to our lines and managed to land safely
without crashing, on the west bank of the Meuse, about
five kilometers behind our front lines. They brought
back valuable information which was at once trans-
mitted to Division Headquarters, after which Lieu-
tenant Conover was taken to the hospital, and has since
been unable to rejoin the Squadron, being invalided
back to the States. He had always been the one to
start the song after the dinner table had been cleared,
and his absence was felt as a keen loss by all.
As a result of the good work done by the Squadron
during the October operations north of Verdun, it
received the following letters of commendation from
the 33rd Division, with which it had worked:

HEADQUARTERS 33rd DIVISION


American Expeditionary Forces
France
October 20, 1918.
FROM : Commanding General, 33rd Division.
TO : Commanding Officer, 90th Aero Squadron,
Amer. E. F.
SUBJECT: Service with 33rd Division.
1. As the 33rd Division is about to withdrav^^ from this

section of the line, I imagine the services with the Division of


the 90th Aero Squadron will end, at least for the time being.
Consequently I wish to express to you at this time my appre-

35
elation for the valuable and efficient work the Squadron has
done with us during the operations. You have met all our
requests with willing compliance unless prevented unquestion-
ably by the elements. Your greatest cooperation has been in
assisting us in locating our lines, which you have done repeat-
edly with uniform success and accuracy.
GEORGE BELL, Jr.,

***** Major General, U. S. A.

West Bank of River,


30th Sept., 1918.
90th Aero Squadron.
Gentlemen: Many thanks for cigarettes and newspapers
dropped to us. It sure made us feel fine to know that others
were thinking of us. These are the things that make us want
to go ahead. Sincerely,
LOUIS PRESTON,
Capt. 131st Inf.
Commanding Co. B, 33rd Division.

G-1 October 15, 1918.

GENERAL ORDERS No. 135


Officers, noncommissioned officers and enlisted men of the 29th
and 33rd.
D.LU.S., 18th, 26th, D.L and 10th, D.I.C.
You have conquered Lawavrille, the wood Des Caures
and that of D'Haumont, you have reached the summit of
Ormont, gone beyond the Rechene and the woods of
Chaume.
The Austro-Germans have lost, on curved front of 15
kilometers, those arrogant observation posts which have defied
the heroic defenders of Verdun.
On the 8th of October you advanced in a magnificent man-
ner, on formidable slopes and through powerful and echelon
organizations.

36
On the following day you pursued an obstinate advance
which checked all the enemy counter-attacks you compelled him
;

to bring up numerous reinforcements in a hurry, which did not


succeed in taking back one foot of conquered ground.
5,800 prisoners, more than 50 guns, machine guns and
material which has not yet been counted, are the booty of these
magnificent days.
All of you infantrymen, artillerymen, engineers, aviators,
staff and other branches of the service have their part in the

success.

American soldiers, French white and black soldiers, you


have vied with each other in valor and comradeship during the
combat, and weakened the menace which still threatens the
Immortal City.
I am proud to have you under my command.
COMMANDING GENERAL OF 17th FRENCH
CORPS. (Signed) CLAUDEL.
Translated from the French by order of Captain VIGNON,
C.A.S., 17th French Corps. J. TONGAS,
First Lieut. F.A., French Liaison Officer.

Owing to the rapid advance which the American


First Army had made up to the last of October and
the still more rapid advance which was contemplated,

it was decided to be necessary for the 3rd Corps Group


to be nearer the front line. Near Bethelainvllle was
a high plateau which had previously been known as
the only place in the sector where a forced landing
could be made with any safety. It was far from level,

very muddy, and had many shell holes. After the


first drive, however, it was out of range of all but

the heaviest Artillery, so it was this field which was


chosen. Barracks and hangars were erected in the
Bois de Hesse, a stone road built leading up to the

37
field,and on October 29 the 90th moved up. The
88th, 284th (French), and Group Headquarters fol-
lowed a few days later.
The 90th was complimented by Corps Headquarters
for the manner in which work was continued without
interruption during the moving. Several planes took
off in the morning from the Souilly field, and after

accomplishing their missions, landed on the new field


and made their reports.
Operations from Bethelainville proved most difficult.
The field was isolated from all bases of supplies, the
very uneven terrain was the cause of constant break-
age of axles, and the mud made the transportation of
supplies impossible without the use of caterpillar
tractors.
While here, the last remaining team of those formed
in August was broken up. Lieutenants Carver and
Lindstrom set out on a reconnaissance the morning of
November 4. The cloud level was at 200 meters, and
just after diving through these clouds at a point a few
miles north of Cunel, the front cowl suddenly blew
off, and back into the flying wires, probably through
the wire holding it having been cut. Lieutenant
Carver attempted to land, after pointing the plane
south, but either because of the added wind resistance
from the hanking cowl, or through the elevator wires
having been cut by fire from the ground, it was impos-
sible to redress for the landing, and the plane crashed
nose first into a shell hole north of Cunel. Lieutenant
Carver's injuries were quite serious, among them a
dislocated hip, sprained knee and ankle, and severe cuts
on the face. Lieutenant Lindstrom's face was cut and

38
bruised, but otherwise he was all right. The plane
was totally demolished, the fuselage breaking in two
pieces near the pilot's seat. Lieutenant Carver was
discharged from the hospital January 7, 1919, and
rejoined the Squadron at Belrain, Meuse.
The 90th reported constantly on the progress of
the 90th and 79th Divisions during the stirring days
just before the armistice, and rendered valuable aid
in harassing the retreating Boche troops in their flight
northward. Lieutenant Greist, with Lieutenant Wil-
kinson, Observer, in a flight made a day or so before
the armistice, gave material assistance to a platoon of
the 314th Infantry (79th Division), which had gotten
into difficulty, and later discovered that it was com-
manded by Lieutenant Pierson, brother of our Com-
manding Officer.
Following the armistice little flying was done, most
of the old pilots and observers being absent on leave
or returning to the States. Lieutenant Greist, with
Lieutenant Stevens, Photographic Officer of the 3rd
Corps Observation Group, took some very fine oblique
views of the devastated country north of Verdun, as
well as of Verdun itself, while the pilots who arrived
at the Squadron at the time of the armistice or later,
amused themselves by wrecking most of the remaining
planes and some of the new observers. The Squadron
received word that it was to return to the States, surely
a thing not to be regarded lightly, and the rest of the
planes were turned in to the 1st Air Depot, and by
January 15 practically all of the pilots and observers
had been detached from the Squadron, which at that

39
time found itself at Belrain, near Bar-le-Duc, whence

ithad moved from Bethelainville.


January 18 the Squadron took another step toward
home, moving to Colombey les Belles, where it had
commenced the building, in November, 1917, of the
1st Air Depot. Very comfortable quarters were
assigned and the Squadron settled down to await orders
to the coast.
The following are the officers who accompanied the
Squadron to Libourne:

First Lieut. Norris E. Pierson, A.S. U.S.A., Commanding


Officer.
First Lieut. E. Harold Greist, A.S. U.S.A., Adjutant and
Flight Commander.
First Lieut. Loren E. Rohrer, A.S. U.SA., Flight Com-
mander.
First Lieut. Leland M. Carver, A.S. U.S.A., Flight Com-
mander.
First Lieut. William O. Lowe, U.S.M.C, Operations
Officer.
First Lieut. Glenn M. Pike, A.S. U.S.A., Pilot.
First Lieut. J. J. Livingston, M.C. U.S.A., Surgeon.
First Lieut. Ralph G. Looney, A.S. U.S.A., Supply Officer.
Second Lieut. John H. Wallace, A.S. U.S.A., Engineering
Officer.

Second Lieut. Clive W. Lacy, Ord. U.S.A., Ordnance


Officer.
Second Lieut. Arthur J. O'Connor, AS. U.S.A., Radio
Officer.

The Squadron left Colombey les Belles January 25,


1919, en route for the Port of Embarkation. The
travel directed was accomplished in the French variety

40
Bois DE Forges {Meuse Sector)
of Side-door Pullmans, otherwise known to fame as
"Hommes 40, Chevaux 8," and was said to be neces-
sary in the military service. Through the initiative
of our men stoves were installed, which made the
journey bearable in spite of the considerable cold
weather encountered. Our actual destination proved
to be the pretty little village of St. Denis de Piles,
near Libourne, Gironde, and the and enlisted officers
personnel occupied excellent which had beenbillets,

arranged for by the advance party under command of


Lieutenant Rohrer.
On February 3, after five days spent at St. Denis,
the Squadron was ordered to Libourne, the next step
on the way home. There we occupied the old stone
French barracks, while the officers were billeted at
private houses throughout the town. The time was
spent in drilling, fatigue work, and other recreation,
including the famous outdoor sport of "making big
ones into little ones," which the men all thoroughly
enjoyed (???).
.

On February 22, Lieutenant Pierson received his


promotion to a Captaincy, for which he and the Flight
Commanders had been recommended prior to the
armistice.
March 10, Lieutenant Pike left the Squadron to
proceed to Poland as a member of the American Food
Commission, and shortly after Lieut. J. J. Livingston,
our Medical Officer since the formation of the Squad-
ron at Kelley Field, left to take a course of study at
the A.E.F. University at Beaume. March 21, Lieu-
tenant Greist, who had been a Flight Commander
since the Squadron arrived at the front, and who had

41
served as Adjutant since shortly after the armistice,
was detached to go home as a casual, on account oi
the receipt of news of illness in his family. Lieutenant
Rohrer was appointed Adjutant to succeed him.
On April 10, Lieutenant Lowe learned from a Navy
Department order that he had been a Captain since
July 8, 1918.
The Squadron remained at Libourne until April 10,
when the long-awaited order to proceed to the Em-
barkation Camp at last arrived. The trip to Genicart
was made in one day by marching, and the Squadron
entered Camp No. 1, the first stage in the process
through the Embarkation Camp.
After two days
here, the next step was taken, Squadron going to
the
Camp No. 2, entering by way of the " mill," where
delousing and the physical examinations took place.
All the members of the 90th were pronounced "fit,"
and there remained only to wait for the boat to be
designated.
After two or three disappointments we were ordered
on board the U.S.S. "General Goethals," but unfor-
tunately, owing to the small size of the boat and the
consequent limitations in staterooms for the officers, the
Squadron was allowed to take but three officers, those
accompanying Captain Pierson being Captain Alger,
M.C., U.S.A., who was assigned to the Squadron as
Medical Officer at the Embarkation Camp, and Lieu-
tenant Carver, as Adjutant. The other officers were
detached, and sailed the same day, April 20, Easter
Sunday, on board the U.S.S. " Susquehanna."
The voyage was very uneventful, especially com-
pared to the excitement of the trip across, when sub-

42
marines were a constant menace, and the
men passed
the time in reading and sleeping. The only excitement
was when a porpoise jumped alongside the
steamer, or
when another steamer was sighted, which occurred
but
seldom. The weather was unusually good, only one
storm, of two days' duration, being
encountered.
Land was finally sighted at 5 a.m.. May 3, and
we
docked in Hoboken at 10 a.m., after a voyage of
thirteen days.
Pie and coffee were served on the dock,
after which
the ferry took us to a Long Island train, from which
we unloaded near Camp Mills. A brief
march
brought us to camp, where we were assigned
to bar-
racks.
At midnight the Squadron made the acquaintance
of the American variety of delouser, and
blouses suf-
fered severely from the wet steam.
May 4, at 8 a.m., the Squadron marched over
to
Field No. 2, Garden City, and the work of demobili-
zation was begun.
At this stage the 90th lost the services of Sergeants
Hankins and Byrth, who became ill.
Captain Alger and the Medical Detachment
were de-
tached and assigned to duty with the Camp
Hospital.
A few days later Sergeant-Major Greer, M.E.A.S.,
who had also been with the
Squadron from the begin-
ning, became and was transferred to the hospital
ill,

for treatment, M.E.A.S. Rich replacing


him.
Sergeant Greer had earned his grade after
starting
as a private, his work in the office
being of so high
a grade as to win constant recognition
and steady
advancement, and it was greatly regretted that he had

43
to leave during the pressing work of demobilization.
Sergeant Rich, who took his proved equal
place, to
the occasion, and earned special commendation for his
efficient service.

After two weeks of paper work, it was finally com-


pleted, and orders received sending the men to the
various discharge camps throughout the country.
The time was passed by the men in New York City
for the most part, as no passes were needed to leave
camp, and the men were not slow to avail themselves
of the opportunity afforded.
The last May 22, and Cap-
detachments entrained
tain Pierson and Lieutenant Carver received their
orders relieving them from duty with the 90th.
There remained of the Squadron but the three
Regular Army men, headed by Sergeant Richardson,
who were to form the nucleus of the new 90th, as the
name is to be preserved, and vested in a Regular
Army Squadron, to commemorate the work of the 90th
in France.
As Lieutenant Looney, the old Supply Officer, had
just arrived in camp, he was assigned to take the 90th
to Kelley Field, where it arrived May 25, after having
been absent, in service, for nearly two years.
Special mention should be made of the work of
Supply Sergeant Jones, and Sergeants Hankins, Blake,
Johnston, York, Chew, Louis Hill, and Sill. To do
real justice, in fact, the Squadron roster might be
cited, for all did their duty, with a will that made the
90th the success it was.
Since the St. Mihiel drive the 90th has been called
a "Shock Squadron." For almost two months, with-
out any relaxation, it carried on the difficult part
assigned to Divisional Squadrons in offensive and open
warfare. During that time missions were carried out
in all kinds of weather, good and bad, but usually bad,
and the results accomplished, as seen from the Observ-
ers' reports and the many letters of commendation
and appreciation received from the Divisions for which
itwas working, were of the utmost value to these units.
The 90th has a right to feel that its work will be put
on record and that the " Red Dice " will long be
remembered. Our only regrets come from the loss
of our four comrades who died while serving the uni-
versal cause with us, as well as of our friend, who,
after bearing his part courageously and cheerfully
throughout the five months which the Squadron spent
on the front, was destined never to return to the United
States. Compared to many other Squadrons, our list

of casualties has been small, but the memory of those


withwhom we worked who made the supreme sacrifice

from our midst, will live with us forever.

f S«t»»SON

45
MEMORABLE INCIDENTS
THE large
greatest danger to the 90th, In spite of their
number of combats, came not from enemy
planes, but from the enemy on the ground, and from
bad weather conditions. It is impossible to mention
individually all the difficult missions accomplished. A
few types only are picked out to illustrate.
On October 8, the 33rd Division, attached to the
17th French Army Corps, was advancing east of Con-
senvoye. Lieutenants Pike and Parr volunteered to
find the front line. It was raining and hailing as they

took off, but in the midst of this storm they flew for
over an hour at fifty meters from the ground, passing
through the friendly barrage and hostile machine gun
fire, and brought back the desired information.

On October 13, 1918, at about 10:30 p.m., the 90th


received a telephone message from G2 that it was
reported that an armistice had been signed, but that
no order had yet been issued to suspend hostilities.
The Squadron celebrated the news in a fitting manner.
Next morning an advance was scheduled to take place
northwest of Cunel. The weather was so foggy that
no plane was able to ascend until about noon, when
Lieutenants Carver and Lindstrom decided to go up
if possible and see whether the war was really over

or not. On reaching the vicinity of Brieulles the


weather was found to be fairly clear, and they started
to stake the lines. While flying at about fifty meters
from the ground the gas tank was pierced by a bullet,

46
Where Vaquois Was {Argonne-Meuse Sector)
which first carried away the speaking tube, but the
Salmson's rubber covered gas tank made it possible
to drop messages to the 5th Division at Montfaucon
and to the 3rd Corps at Rampont, and to land on the
field at Souilly before all the gas had leaked out. It
was decided that if the war was over, the Boches in
the Bois de Foret had not yet been notified of the fact.
On October 21 the 3rd Corps Commander sent an
urgent request for a plane to ascertain whether prepa-
rations were being made by the enemy to counter-
attack. Lieutenants Broomfield and Cutter volun-
teered. They were seen to cross the lines at about
fifty meters altitude, flying in irregular course tododge
machine gun fire. A balloon observer saw them dis-
appear for a few minutes, then reappear at about the
same altitude. At 11:15 o'clock he saw the plane
suddenly lurch and crash out of control the short dis-
tance to the ground. It fell in "No
Man's Land,"
near Cote 299, northeast of Cunel, and both pilot and
As our lines advanced,
observer were killed instantly.
both their remains and the ruins of the plane were
found and identified.
On October 28, Lieutenants Conover and Burger
went out on a very difficult Infantry contact mission
over Hill 360, east of the Meuse. Visibility was bad,
and they were forced to fly at fifty meters, as the
Infantry were too busy to put out their panels. They
detected six enemy machine gun nests which seemed
to be holding up the American advance, and dived at
them repeatedly, firing several hundred rounds of am-
munition. Four of these machine gun nests were
abandoned and the other two silenced. In the course

47
of this action the plane was riddled with bullets, and
Lieutenant Conover was wounded twice, two of the
bullets tearing a large hole in his right knee. He suc-
ceeded, however, in effecting a safe landing near Con-
senvoye, and Lieutenant Burger immediately tele-

phoned in his information.


Lieutenants Greist and Borden had a very exciting
trip together. They went up late in the afternoon
on an Infantry contact mission and were attacked by
three Fokkers. These they drove off, but in the delay
it had become almost dark. They staked the lines and
were about to return home when a six-star rocket
exploded in the plane, which immediately took fire.
Lieutenant Greist headed for the ground, but Lieu-
tenant Borden grasped the flaming rocket in his hand
and threw it from the plane. Then with the Pyrene
can he extinguished the blaze in the fuselage and
shouted to his pilot that they could return to the field,

where Lieutenant Greist made a safe landing by flares.


On October 31, Lieutenants Bovard and Foster were
on a reconnaissance of the enemy lines north of Aincre-
ville, flying at about 100 meters, when they found

themselves over several hostile strong points. A single


gun opened on them and they retired behind our lines
with a few bullet holes. Uncertain, however, whether
it was a friendly or hostile gun which had fired, they

entered once more and this time were fired on from


all sides by every gun within range. The only direc-
tion clear was directly away from home, so the plane
was forced to proceed several kilometers into hostile
territory before it could swing around the dangerous
spot and retire. The engine was irreparably injured

48
I
by bullets in the radiator and oiling system, but com-
pleted the trip back to the field before giving out
entirely.
Lieutenants Neidecker and Lake, on November 3,
flew a general reconnaissance for the 17th French
Corps. They penetrated the enemy lines so far that
they went entirely off their map, but flying at 200
meters they picked up much information which they
were able to locate on the map after their return. At
one point they saw a train of nineteen cars moving
along a siding, filled with troops. They dived and
raked the whole length of it with machine gun bullets.
On the morning of November 1 the main offensive
was renewed west of the Meuse. A thick mist and
light rain made it seemingly impossible for a plane to
take off without danger of crashing. It was of utmost
importance, however, that the location of our lines be
ascertained. Lieutenants Burger volun-
Grelst and
teered for this mission. When
off, the fog
they took
was so thick that they were forced to just skim the
ground, relying on their intimate knowledge of the
sector to find their way to the lines. They ran the
risk of running Into hills in their blindness, and were
almost constantly in their own barrage. Without any
protection they penetrated five kilometers behind the
German lines, and returned with valuable information
as to the disposition of the enemy Artillery and Infan-
try. They flew along the barrage lines just over the
heads of our Infantry so that Lieutenant Burger could
stake our lines. The ship was so tossed about by the
concussion of bursting shells underneath that both
pilot and observer were made very sick. Finishing

49
their mission successfully, they landed at an aerodrome,
delivered their information, and set off once more in

the fog for home. This was the only mission carried
out over the sector that day, and brought the Divi-
sional Commander the only information he received
as to the location of his front lines, and all the infor-
mation was later verified.
Both Lieutenant Greist and Lieutenant Burger were
recommended for the Medal of Honor for extraor-
dinary heroism.
The following Military Decorations have been con-
ferred on Officers of the 90th Aero Squadron:

Distinguished Service Cross


Second Lieut. Valentine J. Berger (with oak leaf).
First Lieut. Harvey Conover.
First Lieut. E. Harold Greist.
First Lieut. Wilbert E. Kinsley.
First Lieut.William O. Lowe.
Second Lieut. Fred A. Tillman.

Legion of Honor
Second Lieut. Fred A. Tillman.

Croix de Guerre
First Lieut. Morton B. Adams.
Second Lieut. Valentine J. Burger (with palm).
First Lieut. Harvey Conover.
Second Lieut. Alexander Grier.
Second Lieut. Horace A. Lake (with palm).
Maj. William G. Schauffler, Jr.
Second Lieut. Fred A. Tillman (with palm).

Aero Club of America Medal of Honor


First Lieut. Harvey Conover.
SEVEN UP
the choice of an insignia the Squadron was for-
INtunate. It is a rule of the Air Service that no
Squadron shall have an insignia until it has seen three
months' service at the Front. The time for the 90th
to adopt one came while it was stationed at Ourches.
There was a frenzied fortnight of verbal strife between
parties supporting different designs. No one is quite
clear as to the reasons which led to the triumph of
the dice. Some was through the influence
claim that it

of certain members who through


this symbol cornered

the money market after every pay day.


Whatever the cause, this insignia, first used by Cap-
tain Schauffler while with the First Aero Squadron,
became the emblem of the 90th, and in short order
all the planes of the Squadron blossomed out with red

dice twelve by twelve, with white eyes. Whatever


way the dice are read they come " Seven." That this
was a lucky emblem the multitude of successful mis-
sions and seven official victories In the air, prove.
Other Squadrons cried for replacements, but the dice
of the 90th brought her veterans through with but
very few casualties, only one plane being lost over the
lines, which is probably a unique record among Squad-
rons which saw an equal period of service at the front.

51
COMBAT REPORTS — CONFIRMATIONS
THE first

acquaintance
question
whom
an aviator asks of any old
he has not seen for some time
is, "Get any Boches lately?" This shows the tendency
to give great importance in aerial work to combats,
to getting a " Hun." In the case of Observation
Squadrons this emphasis is wrongly placed, since the
measure of success of such a Squadron is measured not
in terms of combats but in terms of accurate informa-
tion brought back and this means dodging battles
instead of seeking them. None the less, accuracy with
a machine gun is an essential accomplishment both for
pilots and observers and a good record against the
Fokkers is certainly something to be proud of. In
its five months on the front the 90th engaged in over

twenty-five aerial battles, practically all of which were


in the last two months, as it was very rare to see a
Boche plane in the St. Mihiel sector before the drive
of September 12. As a result of these combats the
Squadron was credited officially with the destruction
of seven enemy planes, in addition to which several
others were in fact brought down, and in all these
combats lost but one plane, which may have been
brought down from the ground. The records which
follow give some idea of the odds at which our men
always fought and of one part of the danger which
awaited them on a large proportion of their missions.
On September 20, 1918, Lieutenant Hart, Pilot,
and Lieutenant Grier, Observer, while acting as protec-

52
don for another observation plane, were engaged in
the following combat west of Dampvitoux in the St.
Mihiel sector at 17:44 o'clock. While flying above
in the rear of the observation plane, Lieutenant Grier
sighted a single enemy plane flying below him, within
the German lines, and at an altitude of about 200
meters. The Boche did not attack, but manoeuvered
suspiciously to attract attention. Expecting a ruse of
some sort, Lieutenant Grier began to watch the sky
above him, especially a white puff of cloud within the
enemy lines, at thesame time moving his guns into a
position ready to meet an attack from that direction.
They were flying at about 800 meters, when suddenly
three Fokkers shot out from the cloud at an altitude
of about 1000 meters and dived to attack from the rear,
firing as they came. Lieutenant Grier held his fire

until he had a good range and then opened up on


the leader. He saw his tracer bullets hit the enemy
plane in several places,and then saw the plane go
into a vertical dive with smoke pouring from the motor
and fuselage. He watched it fall until a second Fok-
ker came down upon him, which he succeeded in driving
off with sixty or seventy well-directed shots from his
Lewis gun. The enemy craft then gave up the fight
and disappeared among the clouds behind their own
lines. The plane, in which were Lieutenants Grier and
Hart, also bore several marks of battle. Wings, tail

and fuselage were punctured by bullets, several having


passed within a few inches of the observer, and one
severing a brace wire on the rudder.

53
Order of Confirmation.

HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY


American Expeditionary Force
France, September 27, 1918.
General Orders
No. 10
Extract
2. Second Lieut. F. H. Hart, Pilot, and A. T. Grier,
Observer, 90th Aero Squadron, 3rd Corps Observation Group,
are hereby credited with the destruction in combat of an enemy
airplane in the region of Dampvitoux at 800 metres altitude,

on September 20, 1918, at 17:45 o'clock.

By Order of Colonel Mitchell,

T. DeW. MILLING,
Col., A.S. U.S.A., Chief of Staff.

OFFICIAL:
M. P. KELLEHER, Major.

Lieut.W. G. Schauffler, Pilot, and Lieut. Morton


B. Adams, Observer, while dropping newspapers to
our troops along the southern edge of the Bois de
Dannevoux, on October 1, 1918, were attacked by
eight Fokker chasse planes at an altitude of 500 meters.
The Hun, employing his usual method of attack, came
down from the rear on their tail, firing as they dived.
The third plane to attack succeeded in cutting away
the horns on the right elevator, thus rendering the
right elevator control wire useless. Lieutenant Adams
in the meantime had been pouring a stream of bullets
into the second, third and fourth enemy planes as they
came down on him in quick succession. It was on
the fourth Boche that his bullets took vital effect.
This plane was seen to issue a great cloud of black

54
smoke, turn sharply to the right, and start rapidly
towards the earth and in the direction of the German
lines. As he watched for an instant the downward
course of the enemy looked more and more as if the
Fokker were in and out of control. The
flames
remaining four planes overhead claimed his attention
by their manoeuvering but did not attack again, even
when Lieutenant Schauffler turned his plane toward the
German lines. During this fight Lieutenant Adams
observed a new type of German cocarde. One of the
Hun machines bore, instead of the customary black
Maltese cross, a circle on the wings in which a very
small cross was painted.

Order of Confirmation.

HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY


American Expeditionary Force
France, October 23, 1918.
General Orders
No. 20.
Extract
13. First Lieuts. W. Schauffler, Jr., and Morton B.
G.
Adams, 90th Aero Squadron, 3rd Observation Group, are
hereby credited with the destruction in combat of an enemy
Fokker in the region of Dannevoux, at 500 meters altitude, on
October 1, 1918, at 5 :00 o'clock (p.m.).
By Order of Colonel Milling.

W. C. SHERMAN,
Lieut. Col., A.S. U.S.A., Chief of Staff.

OFFICIAL:
H. S. STURGIS,
Second Lieut., A.S. U.S.A., Adjutant.

55
Lieut. W. E. Kinsley, Pilot, and Lieut. W. O. Lowe,
Observer, while on an Infantry liaison mission in the
vicinity of Cunel,on October 7, 1918, at an altitude
of 300 to 600 meters, sighted eight hostile planes north
of Cunel. They watched these planes until they dis-
appeared, and then approached the southern end of
the Bois du Foret, where Lieutenant Lowe called for
our lines by Very pistol signals. They then turned
south and crossed the Cunel-Brleulles road, where they
were attacked by the eight Fokkers previously seen,
which dived suddenly from a cloud over their right
wing. Two Germans opened fire immediately at a
range of 150 meters and came Into thirty meters.
Lieutenant Lowe opened fire on the first one, directing
tracers Into the motor, which caused the Boche to stop
firingImmediately. Lieutenant Lowe then turned his
guns on the second plane, which was only about 75
meters away, and which approached to within thirty-
five meters of the Salmson's tail, when he viraged off,

exposing his entire lower side. Lieutenant Lowe took


advantage of the opportunity and, firing a quick burst,
saw several tracers enter the fuselage under the pilot's
seat. The result was quickly seen, for the Hun started
to fall, out of control. At this moment the first plane
to attack was seen to hit the ground in a vertical nose
dive at point 1 1.7-85.4, just east of Cunel. Two more
planes followed up the attack of their fallen leaders,
both firing at the same time, but from the respectful
range of 300 meters. Lieutenant Lowe then engaged
the nearest of them and directed several tracers Into the
fuselage, whereupon they withdrew and rejoined the
remnants of their formation. Two more planes still

56
'Dead Man's Hill" {Meuse Sector)
higher manoeuvered for position, but were unsuccess-
ful and did not attack.
This first incident over, Lieutenant Kinsley with-
drew a short distance into
friendly territory and
watched the enemy out of sight. Then they returned
to their mission, but were immediately pounced
upon
by six hostile scouts, who manoeuvered to attack from
their right rear. Lieutenant Lowe opened fire at400
meters, but seeing that they were watched, the enemy
withdrew to the north.
The effect of the Boche machine gun
fire was not
serious. One had punctured the rudder, three
bullet
had passed through the right elevator, and one through
the left elevator.

Order of Confirmation.

HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY


American Expeditionary Force
France, October 23, 1918.
General Order
No. 20.
Extract
18. Second Lieuts. W.
E. Kinsley and W. O. Lowe, 90th
Aero Squadron, 3rd Observation Group, are hereby credited
with the destruction, in combat, of an enemy Fokker, in
the
region of Cunel, at 400 meters altitude, on October
7, 1918, at
12:30 o'clock.
By Order of Colonel Milling.
W. C. SHERMAN,
Lieut. Col., A.S. U.S.A., Chief of StafF.
OFFICIAL:
H. S. STURGIS,
Second Lieut., A.S. U.S.A., Adjutant.

57
Lieut. Harvey Conover, and Lieut. V. J.
Pilot,
Burger, Observer, while engaged dangerous In-
in a

fantry contact mission with the 17th French Army


Corps, east of the Meuse, near Sivry, on October 10,
1918, were attacked three times during the same flight
by enemy chasse patrols. The first, a patrol of five,
attacked vigorously, and only by clever manoeuvering
was Lieutenant Conover able to keep his plane so
placed that Lieutenant Burger could fire effectively.
The result of this first attack, however, was the crash-
ing of one plane and the driving off of the remaining
four. Returning then to their mission, they were
again attacked on two different occasions, but by good
flying and good shooting in a running fight, they were
able to hold the enemy off and complete an important
mission.
The American plane, after this series of combats,
was riddled with bullets, wires were cut, spars split,
and ribs damaged. In fact, so many parts were
broken or damaged that the plane was declared unsafe
for further flying and had to be salvaged. Bullets had
also passed through Lieutenant Burger's flying suit,

but no injury had been done to pilot or observer.

Order of Confirmation.

HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY


American Expeditionary Force
France, October 23, 1918.
General Order
No. 20.
Extract
29. First Lieut. Harvey Conover and Second Lieut. V. J.
Burger, 90th Aero Squadron, 3rd Corps Observation Group,

58
are hereby credited with the destructoin, in combat, of an
enemy Fokker, in the region of Sivry sur Meuse, at 500 meters
altitude, on October 10, 1918, 16:45 o'clock.
By Order of Colonel Milling.

W. C. SHERMAN,
Lieut. Col, A.S. U.S.A., Chief of Staff.
OFFICIAL:
H. S. STURGIS,
Second Lieut., A.S. U.S.A., Adjutant.

On October 22, 1918, Lieut. B. C. Neidecker, Pilot,


and Lieut. Horace Lake, Observer, were sent across
the lines to drop a note concerning the whereabouts
of Lieutenants Broomfield and Cutter, who had been
missing since undertaking a dangerous mission the pre-
ceding day. At 15:15 o'clock, at 1000 meters over
Clery-le-Grand, and when just in the act of dropping
the message container, they were attacked by seven
Boche planes. The first dived straight on their tail,
using the unmistakable incendiary bullets. Lieutenant
Lake opened fire immediately and succeeded in sending
the machine down in a vrille with smoke pouring from
the fuselage. A second Fokker dived immediately
and viraged off at a distance of about 100 meters. At
that moment both of Lieutenant Lake's magazines
were empty and, as a third Fokker was attacking, he
called to Lieutenant Neidecker, who immediately put
by the Ger-
his plane in a straight nose dive, followed
man, who was shooting as he came. During the dive.
Lieutenant Lake replaced his empty magazines, and
when Lieutenant Neidecker straightened out, opened
fire at his pursuer. Immediately the fire was opened
the Fokker turned off and flew back into his own lines.

59
The entire fight lasted four minutes, and this plane
was the only allied plane over the sector at the time.

Order of Confirmation.
HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY
American Expeditionary Force
^
Cjeneral
, /-,
Order
,
France, November 2, 1918.

No. 22.
Extract
8. First Lieutenant B. C. Neidecker and Second Lieut.
H. A. Lake, 90th Aero Squadron, 3rd Observation Group, are
hereby credited with the destruction, in combat, of an enemy
Fokker, in the region north of the Bois de Foret, west of Clery,
at 1000 meters altitude, October 22, 1918, 3:40 p.m.
By Order of Colonel Milling.
W. C. SHERMAN,
Lieut. Col., Chief of Staff.

H. S. STURGIS,
Second Lieut., Adjutant.

On November 4, 1918, while performing an Infan-


try contact mission, Lieut. L. E. Rohrer, Pilot, and
Lieut. A. T. Foster, Observer, in one plane, and Lieut.
W. E. Kinsley, Pilot, with Lieut. L. M. Hall, Ob-
server, in another plane as protection, were attacked by
seven Fokkers. Four enemy planes singled out Lieu-
tenants Rohrer and Foster, while the other three con-
centrated on Lieutenants Kinsley and Hall. It was
about 15:35 o'clock and both observation planes were
flying at about 300 meters. Lieutenant Foster and his
pilot saw the scouts just as they approached the Foret
de Dienlet, high overhead, and turned south. As they
turned, the Boche split their formation and came down
to attack both planes. Three of the enemy, attacking

60
Lieutenant Rohrer, came down on his tail to within
100 meters, Lieutenant Foster in the meantime firing
about eighty rounds from each gun. The leader
dropped suddenly and disappeared from sight behind
a wing, going down out of control. The two follow-
ing did not approach so closely, but fired a considerable
number of rounds and then turned off. Lieutenants
Rohrer and Foster then made another attempt to find
the lines, but were met by two Fokkers, with whom
they exchanged shots with no apparent effects. Re-
turning for the third time to try for the lines they
were met by nine Fokkers, attacking from above and
to the left. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Foster's guns
jammed few rounds and it was necessary for
after a
them to try and get away. The enemy planes fol-
lowed them for about a kilometer and forced them
down to within about 100 meters of the ground before
the observer's guns were in action again and he could
turn them off with his fire. Lieutenant Rohrer then
attempted to go home, but two more Huns arrived
and forced them several kilometers west of Mont-
faucon, in a running fight, while his observer continued
to keep tracers sufficiently close to the enemy pilots to
prevent their closing in on them.
Order of Confirmation.

HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY


American Expeditionary Force
^ ^
,
France, November 19, 1918.
General Orders
No. 28.
Extract
33. First Lieuts. L. E. Rohrer and A. T. Foster, 90th Aero
Squadron, 3rd Observation Group, are hereby credited with the

61
destruction, in combat, of an enemy Fokker, in the region of

Foret de Dienlet, at 300 meters altitude, on November 4, 1918,


at 14:10 o'clock.
By Order of Colonel Milling.
W. C. SHERMAN,
Lieut. Col., G.S. U.S.A., Chief of Staff.
OFFICIAL:
H. S. STURGIS,
First Lieut., A.S., Adjutant.

Lieuts. John S. Young and V. J. Burger, while on


a reconnaissance of the 90th Division sector on Novem-
ber 3, 1918, had the following interesting combat with
a single enemy Fokker over Stenay, at 15:30 o'clock.
They arrived over Stenay at an altitude of 300 meters
and saw four hostile planes, which circled back Into
the German lines while they turned south toward their
own. Three times they flew over the town of Stenay,
and each time were chased away by the four Boches,
who did not fire a shot but seemed content to chase
only. On the fourth trip over the town they were
attacked vigorously by a single Fokker of the latest
type —D VII. The Boche was a daring flyer and an
excellent shot. His endeavors to get under their tail
and to turn them back Into the German lines were
unsuccessful, however. Finally he resorted to the old
diving method, and approached to within twenty
meters on their left side. In viraging off he exposed
his entire under side for an Instant and then It was that
Lieutenant Burger filled his motor, body, wings, and
the under side of the fuselage with both tracer and
ordinary bullets. The German's manoeuver was fatal
to him, and he fell off In a slow loose vrllle toward the
ground.

62
The statement that the Boche was an excellent shot
was borne out by an examination of the American plane
after landing. Six bullets had pierced the right wing,
two had punctured the gas tank, six had gone through
the tall, one had split the propeller, and one put out
the wireless generator. One bullet had passed through
Lieutenant Burger's combination suit, just missing his
leg.
Interest was added to this combat by the fact that
the Boche pilot bore on his plane five vertical white
stripes, proclaiming him five times an ace. His excel-
lent ability as a flier and his accurate shooting might
well bear out the evidence.

Order of Confirmation.

HEADQUARTERS AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY


American Epeditionary Force
France, November 17, 1918.

Special Orders
No. 27.
Extract
18. First Lieut. John S. Young and Second Lieut. V. J.
Burger, 90th Aero Squadron, 3rd Observation Group, are
hereby credited with the destruction, in combat, of an enemy
Fokker in the region south of Stenay, at 300 meters altitude, on
November 3, 1918, at 16:35 o'clock.

By Order of Colonel Milling.

W. C. SHERMAN,
Lieut. Col., G.S. U.S.A.

OFFICIAL:
H. S. STURGIS,
First Lieut., AS. U.S.A., Adjutant.

63
OTHER COMBATS OF THE 90th AERO
SQUADRON
Lieutenants M. O. White and J. C. Sherrick, at
11:25 o'clock on September 26, 1918, while on a
surveillance mission over Bois de Forges, at 300
meters, were engaged in combat with six Fokker
scouts. Their plane was untouched and none of their
shots seemed to take effect on the enemy.
Lieuts. John Livingston and Pressley B. Shuss, while
on an Infantry liaison mission over Sivry s/Meuse, on
September 26, 1918, at 150 meters altitude, were met
by six Fokker scouts. The enemy did not succeed in
getting into position to attack. Lieutenant Shuss* fire

appeared to be very accurate but he did not succeed


in bringing the enemy down.
Lieuts. W. B. Schauffler, Jr., and Fred A. Tillman,
while on a reconnaissance from Forges to Dannevoux,
on September 26, 1918, at 300 meters altitude, met a
patrol of twelve enemy scouts. Five manoeuvered for
position but only one attacked, which Lieutenant
Schauffler drove off with fire from his forward gun.
No hitswere made by either pilot.
On September 28, 1918, Lieuts. H. R. Ellis and
H. L. Borden, while flying over Brieulles, on a recon-
naissance mission, at an altitude of 250 meters, met six
Fokker scouts. Inviting combat several times, they
were finally attacked from two sides but drove the

64
Clouds from the Air {St . Mihiel Sector)
"Till the Boches Fljtthe Heavens No More-
Southeast OF Brieulles
enemy off by well-directed machine gun fire. Time,
12:50 o'clock.
While performing a reconnaissance mission on Sep-
tember 29, 1918, 300 meters over the Bois de Forges,
Lieut. F. H. Hart, Pilot, and Lieut. A. T. Grier,
Observer, were fired upon by a Breguet, presumably
flown by the enemy. The fire was returnd without
result. Time, 7 :00 o'clock.
Lieut. Leland M. Carver,
Pilot, and Lieut. Gustaf
T. Lindstrom, Observer, while flying over the Bois
de Cote Lemont at an altitude of 500 meters, at 7:23
o'clock, October 2, 1918, engaged in a running fight
with two groups of enemy scouts. FiVe planes at-
tacked in the first group and four in the second. Ap-
parently no shots took effect from either side.
Lieut. John Livingston, Pilot, and Lieut. H. L.
Borden, Observer, while about to commence an Artil-
lery reglage on a hostile battery in the Bois de Chaume,
at 11:40 o'clock, October 3, 1918, in company with
two protection planes, were attacked 800 meters
at
altitudeby nine enemy Fokkers. The Boche dived on
the formation from the clouds. Lieutenant Borden
opened a hot fire on the attacking planes with appar-
ently good His plane suffered no damage.
results.
Lieut. H. H. Cowle, Pilot, and Lieut. Walter
Frances, Observer, while acting as protection for the
above reglage plane, took part in the same fight. Lieu-
tenant Frances fired over 200 rounds at the enemy,
several tracers taking effect in the wings and fuselage
of the hostile planes. One enemy plane was seen to
fall, but recovered after falling 50 meters. The
American plane was not damaged.

65
Lieut. Loren Rohrer, Pilot, with Lieutenant Vinson,
Observer, also took part in the above engagement.
Lieutenants Rohrer and Vinson, being the rear plane
in the formation, were the principal targets of the
enemy. Lieutenant Vinson fired 100 rounds from his
guns with apparently good effect, and saw several bul-
lets hit the enemy. He saw one plane start to fall,
but had no time to watch it down. His plane was
riddled with bullets, brace wires cut, and the upper
wing set on fire by incendiary bullets.
Flying over Bois de Lartelle, on a reconnaissance
mission, at 9:00 o'clock on October 5, 1918, at 800
meters altitude, Lieut. Norris E. Pierson, Pilot, and
Lieut. Van B. Hayden, observer, engaged five enemy
Fokkers in a running
fight. About thirty-five rounds
were firedby Lieutenant Hayden without apparent
effect. Due
to the fine speed and manoeuvering abil-
ity of the Salmson, the Boches could not get into a
good attacking position.
Lieutenants Pierson and Hayden, at 9 :20 o'clock,
on October 10, 1918, while flying on an Infantry con-
tact mission over Cunel, met four Fokkers, who dived
and opened fire. Some of our Spads then put the
enemy to flight.

While flying over Fountaine at 7 :05 o'clock, Octo-


ber 21, 1918, and performing an Infantry contact mis-
sion at 300 meters altitude. Lieutenant Hart, Pilot,
and Lieutenant Grier, Observer, engaged in combat
with an enemy Rumpler biplane, which was apparently
out to locate the Boche front line. After making sev-
eral attacks upon the Rumpler, they succeeded in forc-
ing him to quit his mission and to leave the vicinity.

6G
Lieut. W. E. Kinsley, Pilot, and Lieut. A. E. Parr,
Observer, while on a special reconnaissance to Villers
devant Dun, at 13:20 o'clock, on the 29th of October,
1918, at 300 meters altitude, were attacked by two
Fokker scouts. Beating them off with machine gun fire,

the Americans turned and gave chase, following the


Boches to Aincreville, firing as often as possible. The
enemy fire shattered one strut and broke a spar in the

aileron of the lower right wing. One of the enemy


was seen to be hit, but not out of control.
Flying as protection for another observation plane,
Lieut. W. E. Kinsley, Pilot, and Lieut. L. M. Hall,
Observer, while flying over the Font de Dienlle at 600
meters altitude on November 4, 1918, were attacked
by five enemy scouts. The enemy fire was very poor,
but Lieutenant Hall by good shooting forced the enemy
to turn off and Time, 14:15 o'clock.
retire.

Lieut. E. H. and Lieutenant Borden,


Greist, Pilot,
Observer, while returning from a reconnaissance mis-
sion in the vicinity of Brandville at 12:48 o'clock on
November 4, 1918, at 500 meters altitude, were being
heavily archied when they were suddenly attacked by
a single black Fokker, who got a position on their tail.
Lieutenant Borden opened fire at the Boche as he
dived and saw his bullets entering the fuselage and
passing all around the enemy plane. Three times the
Fokker attacked, but the last two times he veered off
as Lieutenant Borden's tracers began to flash by him.
The Salmson suffered considerable damage, fifteen bul-
lets having passed through the plane, piercing the oil

tank, wings and fuselage.


While on a reconnaissance mission near Fontaine at

67
11:10 o'clock on November 6, 1918, Lieut. Marshall
G. Lee, Pilot, and Lieut. H. W. Phillips, Observer,
were attacked by a group of four Fokkers, one plane
leaving the formation to attack them. Lieutenant
Phillips opened fire, and the Boche at once turned away
and returned to his own lines. No damage was done
to the Salmson.

68
NINETIETH SONGS
During the stay of the Ninetieth across the big pond
experience was gained in many lines of activity. Many
composers, soloists, and mixers of rare harmony were
developed. Many of the long evenings were passed
in song about the mess table after Corn Willy and
his cohorts had been vanquished. The words to most
of the songs were written by members of the Ninetieth
and the tunes used were confiscated from all sources as
a wartime necessity. It would take a volume to print
them all, so only the most popular ones have been
inserted here.

HAPPY LANDINGS, NINETIETH!


(Tune: "Alma Mater," Cornell)
Flying low o'er Verdun's trenches,
'Midst the shot and shell,
A pair of dice our lucky emblem.
Give the Huns more hell.

Chorus
Tails up and flying any weather,
Where'er the call may be,
Happy landings, Ninetieth Squadron,
Hail, all hail to thee!

Far above the noise of battle,


Dodging Archies' fire.
Taking photos far in Hunland,
That's our heart's desire! (Shout LIKE HELL!)
Ninetieth ties can ne'er be broken,
Wherever we may fly,
Friendships formed in face of danger,
They can never die.

Where'er the coming years may find us,


Whate'er the fates prevail.
Memories of our comrades bind us
And we'll never fail.

69
THE FESTIVE AIRMEN
We're going to blind the enemy, so all the papers say;
We fly the festive Liberty, we're missing the next day;
A bullet in our gas tank, we kiss the world good-by;
They say its for democracy, and we fall from the sky.

Chorus
For we're the airmen, the festive airmen,
Perhaps we never should have flown, for our ships were made at home.
For we're the airmen, the festive airmen,
We invite you all to come and fly the ship called Liberty.

We are a bunch of ambusques, so all the doughboys say;


We live a life of luxury and draw our flying pay;

We fly up to their trenches, and when we're overhead,


They point their machine guns at us and fill us full of lead.

Chorus.

We like to see the regular, who has a J.M.A.,


Sit in his cozy dugout with one-half extra pay;
He tells us how to fight the war, for he shot on a sleeve.

And if we bring down all the Boche, we may get three days' leave.

Chorus.

We get into a scrap each day, six Fokkers on our tail,

We see the tracers streaming by, they shoot away our tail;

We bring old Fritzie down in flames, we see him kiss the ground;
They say for confirmation, " The Archies brought him down."

Chorus.

For we're the airmen, the festive airmen.


Perhaps we never should have flown, for our ships were made at home;
For we're the airmen, the festive airmen.

We invite you all to come and fly the ship called Liberty.

70
——

OH, THEY SAY TRUE LOVE IS A BLESSING


Oh, they say true love is a blessing.
It's a blessing I never could see,

For the only girl that I ever loved.


Has just gone back on me.
She has gone, let her go, God bless her;
She is mine where e'er she may be;
She can search this wide world over, but
She'll have to fly like hell to catch me!

Oh, I've looked at the girls in New York,


In London and gay Paree.
And the one conclusion that I have got.
There are other little fishes in the sea.
She has gone, let her go, God bless her,
For I am far across the sea
She wanted to marry a tin soldier, but
A Home Guard I never could be.

TODAY IS MONDAY
Today is Monday, todayMonday, Monday
is bullets. Oh, you dirty
Germans, we wish the same to you.
Today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday, Tuesday's Archies, Monday's bul-
lets ; oh, you dirty Germans, we wish the same to you.

Today is Wednesday, today is Wednesday, Wednesday's onions, Tues-


day's Archies, Monday's bullets; oh, you dirty Germans, we wish
the same to you.

Today is Thursday, today is Thursday, Thursday Fokkers, Wednesday


onions, Tuesday's Archies, Monday's bullets. Oh, you dirty
Germans, we wish the same to you.
Today is Friday, today is Friday, Friday side-slips, Thursday's Fokkers,
Wednesday's onions, Tuesday's Archies, Monday's bullets. Oh,
you dirty Germans, we wish the same to you.
Today is Saturday, today is Saturday, Saturday's hospital, Friday side-
slips, Thursday's Fokkers, Wednesday's onions, Tuesday's
Archies, Monday's bullets. Oh, you dirty Germans, we wish the
same to you.

Today is is Sunday, Sunday's funerals, Saturday's hos-


Sunday, today
pitals, side-slips, Thursday's Fokkers, Wednesday's
Friday's
onions,Tuesday's Archies, Monday's bullets. Oh, you dirty
Germans, we wish the same to you.

71
OH, NINETY, BRAVE NINETY!
(Tune: "Lord GeoflFrey Amherst")

Oh, the men of the Ninetieth they came across the sea,
To fight in a far country;
To the Germans and the Austrians they didn't do a thing,
In the air of this great country,
In the air of this great country;
For the honor of the Ninetieth they fought with all their might,
For they were airmen tried and true,
And they brought down all the Albatross that came within their sight.
And they straffed the German lines when they were through.
Chorus

Oh, Ninety, brave Ninety, it's a name known to fame in days of war,
May she ever be glorious, till the Boches fly the heavens no more!

I WANT TO GO HOME!
I want to go home, I want to go home;
The guerre it is fini,my francs they are too.
We're stuck in a mud hole with nothing to do.
We've finished with tempting the fates
We want to go back to the States
Oh, my! Who the hell wants to fly?
We want to go home
We want to go home, we want to go home
We've burned all our wood and can't find any more,
The wind whistles up through the cracks in the floorj
There are leaks in the barracks roof, too;
We'll all get pneumonia or " flu."
Oh my! We don't want to die,
We want to go home!

We want go home, we want to go home;


to
We pay checks, we've spent all our kale,
can't get our
And day after day never get any mail.
If you like this damned country, then stay!
Send 7ne back to the old U. S A.
Oh, Oui Old Broadway for me
!

I want to go home!

72
^ ^

u u
:

PERSONNEL OF SQUADRON
AN .
Observation Squadron
tion, and it
is a complex organiza-

was found impossible to give much


space in the history to the changes which this organiza-
tion underwent without making it an unwieldy and
unreadable mass of detail. It was one of the causes
of our success, however, that the right men filled the
right places; the results accomplished by a mission over
the front are as much the work of the mechanics who
have kept the plane in condition to fly, as of the pilot
and observer who actually perform it. Every man
in the Squadron has played a part in the game, and
all have played it with an enthusiasm and pride in their

work which has marked the 90th wherever it has been


as a Squadron which could accomplish things.
The organization underwent very few changes dur-
ing its duty at the front, and it is probably due to
this fact that there were so few casualties, as the pilots
and observers of the various planes understood each
other through long association, and the crews showed
a very fine spirit, taking the liveliest interest in their
work. Following is the organization of the flights at
the two most important points of the Squadron's exist-
ence — St. Mihiel, and Verdun — and the rest of the
enlisted personnel and roster of officers is given as at
the time of the armistice

73
PERSONNEL OF 90th SQUADRON DURING ST. MIHIEL OFFENSIVE
Commanding Officer — Lieut. Schauffler, Lieut. Gallop (acting until September IS)
Adj utant — Lieut. Hackett
Operations Officer — Lieut. Adams

"A" Flight

Sgt. 1st CI. York, in charge of hangar

Pilot Observer Crew Chief Assistant


1—Lt. White (Flight Lt. Sherrick Chf. Hunsacker Pvt. Antosh
Commander)
2 — Lt. Livingston Lt. Shuss Chf. Auten Pvt. 1st CI. Pino
3—Lt. Cowle Lt. Francis Chf. De Baun Pvt. 1st CI. McWhirter
4 — Lt. Conover Lt. Burger Chf. O'Connell Pvt. Blackledge
5—Lt. Hart Lt. Grier Chf. Tiller Pvt. 1st. CI. Stone
6 —Lt. Dorrance Sgt. 1st CI. Chev7 Pvt. Bertonz

" B " Flight

Sgt. 1st CI. Blake, in charge of hangar

Pilot Observer Creix: Chief Assistant


7— Lt.Greist (Flight Lt. Tillman Sgt. Goodman Pvt. 1st CI. King
Commander)
8—Lt. Neidecker Lt. Lake Sgt. Medlin Pvt. 1st CI. Buckley
9—Lt. Ellis Lt. Borden Chf. Grice Cpl. Barton
10—Lt. Kinsley Lt. Lowe Sgt. Cargill Pvt. IstCl. Killman
11—Lt. Bovard Lt. Sullivan Sgt. Clifton Pvt. 1st CI. Kendricks
12—Lt. Carver Lt. Lindstrom Chf. Farrand Cpl. Bunning

" C " Flight


Sgt. 1st CI. Johnson, in charge of hangar

Pilot Observer Creiu Chief Assistant


13—Lt. Pierson (Flight Lt. Haydon Chf. 1st CI. Richey Cpl. Carson
Commander)
14—Lt. Lee Lt. Waldon Sgt.Jaeger Pvt. Larson
15—Lt.Rohrer Lt. Vinson Chf. Pheiffer Pvt. Lackey
16— Lt. Pike Lt. Parr Sgt. 1st CI. Ford Pvt. De Young
17—Lt. Gallup Sgt. 1st CI. Van Sickle Pvt. Brickey
18—Lt. Young Lt. Bogle Sgt. Bair Cpl. Morrow
19—Lt. Broomfield Lt. Cutter Pvt. Croft Pvt. Tully

74
PERSONNEL OF 90th SQUADRON DURING ARGONNE-MEUSE
OFFENSIVE
Commanding Officer — Lieut. Schauffler (until October 22), Lieut. Pierson
Adjutant — Lieut. Lockwood (until October 22), Lieut. Hayden

Operations Officer — Lieut. Adams (until October 17), Lieut. Tillman (until
October 22), Lieut. Lowe
"A" Flight
Sgt. 1st CI. York, in charge of hangar
Pilot Obser'ver Creiv Chief Assistant
1—Lt. White (Flight Capt. Foster Chf. Hunsacker Pvt. Antosh
Commander)
2 — Lt. Livingston Lt. Shuss Chf Auten
. Pvt. IstCl.TulIy
3—Lt. Cowle Lt. Francis Chf. De Baun Pvt. Istai.McWhirter
4 — Lt. Conover Lt. Burger Chf. O'Connel Pvt. Blackledge
5 — Lt. Hart Lt. Grier Chf. Tiller Pvt. 1st CI. Stone
6—Lt. Whitehead Sgt. 1st. CI. Chew Pvt. 1st CI. Pino

" B " Flight


Sgt. 1st CI. Blake, in charge of hangar

Pilot Observer Cre'VJ Chief Assistant


7—Lt. Greist (Flight Lt. Tillman Sgt. Goodman Pvt. 1st CI. King
Commander)
8—Lt. Neidecker Lt. Lake Sgt. Medlin Pvt. 1st CI. Buckley
9— Lt. Ellis Lt. Borden Cpl. Barton Pvt. Race
10—Lt. Kinsley Lt. Lowe Sgt. Cargill Pvt. IstCl. Killman
11— Lt. Bovard Lt. Foster Sgt. Clifton Pvt. 1st CI. Kendricks
12 — Lt. Carver Lt. Lindstrom Chf. Farrand Cpl. Bunning
" C " Flight
Sgt. 1st CI. Johnson, in charge of hangar

Pilot Observer Creiu Chief Assistant


14 — Lt. Pierson ( Flight Lt. Hayden Chf. 1st CI. Richey Chf. 1st CI. Carson
Commander un-
tilOctober 22)
IS—Lt. Lee Lt. Walden Sgt. Jaeger Pvt. 1st CI. Larson
16 — Lt. Rohrer Lt. Vinson Chf. Pheiffer Pvt. 1st CI. Lackey
17— Lt. Pike Lt. Parr Sgt. 1st CI. Ford Pvt. De Young
18 — Lt. Dorrance Chf. Craig Sgt. Brown
19—Lt. Young ( Flight Lt. Bogle Sgt. Bair Cpl. Morrow
Commander,
Oct. 22-Nov. 11)
20—Lt. Broomfield Lt. Cutter Cpl. Croft Pvt. 1st CI. Clickner

75
ROSTER
OFFICERS
Adams, Morton B, . . . . 1st Lieut. F, A., Observer
817 Stahlman Bldg., Nashville, Tenn.

Baker, Warren L. 2nd Lieut., Observer


409 W. Sixth St., Lexington, Ky.

Black, Asa R, 1st Lieut. A. S., Observer

Blekre, Ferdinand 1st Lieut. Cav,, Observer


Lanesboro, Minn.

Bogle, Henry C. ....


843 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich.
2nd Lieut. F. A., Observer

Borden, Horace L. » . . . . 2nd Lieut. S. C, Observer


Suite 26, 204 Hemenway Boston, Mass.

....
St.,

Bovard, James M. 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


682 Avenue C, Bayonne, N. J.

Burger, Valentine J 2nd Lieut. Inf., Observer


135 Christie St., Leonia, N. J.

Carver, Leland M 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


American Flying Club, 11 E. 38th St., New York City

Conover, Harvey 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


Hinsdale,

....
111.

Crook, Wilson W. 2nd Lieut. A. S., Pilot


919 Annex Ave., Dallas, Texas

Derby, Richard .... 1st Lieut. C. A. C, Observer


Dorrance, George W. . 2nd Lieut. A.
. . S., Observer
9 Courtlandt Place, Houston, Texas

Elliott, William, Jr 1st Lieut. Cav., Observer


522 West End Ave., New York City

Ellis, Henry R 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


Oxford Road, New Hartford, N. Y.

Foster A. T 1st Lieut. F. A., Observer


Derby Line, Vt.

Foster, Harry Capt. Cav., Observer


113 W. 84th St., New York City

76
\

Francis, Walter L 2nd Lieut. Inf., Observer


Glastonbury, Conn.

Freeman, Harry B 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


Lynnfield Center, Mass.

Gallop, Harold M Capt. A. S., Pilot


Langley Field, Va.
Greist, E. Harold 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot
61 N. Clay St., Hinsdale, 111.

Grier, Alexander T 2nd Lieut. Inf., Observer


703 N. Division St., Salisbury, Md.
Hackett, William H. Y 1st Lieut. A. S., Adjt.
242 Canton Ave., Milton, Mass.
Hall, Levi M 2nd Lieut. A. S., Pilot
308 Gramercy Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.

Hart, Floyd H 2nd Lieut. A. S., Pilot


Edgevale Orchard, Medford, Ore.
Harrison, Randolph C. . . . 2nd Lieut. F. A., Observer
Monroe Terrace, Richmond, Va.
Hayden, Van B 2nd Lieut. A. S., Observer
729 Franklin St., Keokuk, Iowa
Hendricks, T. N 2nd Lieut. F. A., Observer
Nashville, Ga.

Hume, Allen P Capt. A. S.


Washington, D. C.
Kinsley, Wilburt E 2nd Lieut. A. S., Pilot
99 Cambridge St., Winchester, Mass.

Kirschner, Frederick 2nd Lieut. Ord.


906 Lakeside Place, Chicago, 111.

Lacy, Clive W 2nd Lieut. Ord., Armament


16 Harvard Terrace, Boston, Mass.
Lake, Horace A.
3528 T
....St., N. W., Washington, D. C.
2nd Lieut. Inf., Observer

Lee, Marshall G 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


1255 Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, Calif.

Lindstrom, Gustaf T. . 2nd Lieut.


. , S. C, Observer
2025 Sixth Ave., MoHne, 111.

Livingston, John W. ....


1623 Eighth Ave., Moline, 111.
1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot

77
Livingston, J. J. . . . . 1st Lieut. M. C, Surgeon
220 W. Ferguson St., Tyler, Texas

Lockwood, Alan E. . . 1st Lieut, A. S., Engineer and Adit.


135 East Ave., Norwalk, Conn.

Looney, Ralph D. . . . 1st Lieut. A. S., Supply Officer


Calvert, Texas
Lowe, William G Captain U. S. M. C, Observer
Fountain City, Knoxville, Tenn.

McSherry, F. D
Gordon Bldg., McAlester, Okla.

Neidecker, Bertrand C 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


Guaranty Trust Co., 140 Broadway, New York City

O'Connor, Arthur J. . . .2nd Lieut. A. S., Radio Officer


127 20th Milwaukee, Wis.
....
St.,

Parr, Arthur E. 2nd Lieut. A. S., Observer


706 E. Bell St., Bloomington, 111.

Pike, Glenn M 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


American Flying Club, 11 E. 38th St., New York City

Phillips, Hubert N 1st Lieut. F. A., Observer


1705 Hague Ave., Paul, Minn.

Pierson, Norris E.
61
.....
Broad St.,
St.

Stamford, Conn.
Captain A. S., Pilot

Phinzy, Jack 1st Lieut., A. S.

Rohrer, Loren E 1st Lieut., A. S., Pilot


5834 Center Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Schauffler, William G., Jr Major A. S., Pilot


Care of Air Service, U. S. Army
Sherrick, John C. ....
317 E. Broadway, Monmouth,
1st Lieut.
111.
A. S., Observer

Shuss, Pressley B 1st Lieut. A. S., Observer


Stearns Light & Power Co., Ludington, Mich.

Simpson, Leslie B. ..... 1st Lieut. A.


1338 Kellam Ave., Los Angeles, Calif.
S., Pilot

Sullivan, Arthur M. . . . 2nd Lieut. F. A., Observer


Minneapolis, Minn.

Tillman, Fred A 2nd Lieut. F. A., Observer


Congressional Offices, Washington, D. C.

78
Vinson, Fred L.
1459 N
....
St., N. W., Washingthon, D. C.
2nd Lieut. F. A., Observer

Walden, Donald M. . . . 2nd Lieut. F. A., Observer


294 Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Wallace, John H 2nd Lieut. A. S., Engineer


Rockwall, Texas

White, Merritt 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


Tyngsboro, Mass.

Whitehead, George W 2nd Lieut. A. S., Pilot


46 Ashland Ave., Buifalo, N. Y.

Young, John S. 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


National Life Ins. Bldg., Montpelier, Vt.

ENLISTED MEN
Adler, Philip, Pvt. .... Omaha, Nebr.
Left before active service

Alhofen, Harry J., Pvt Orderly


c/o Deisel, 108 Fulton Ave., Greenville, N. J.

Allman, Orrie Left before active service


New York City

Anchors, Roy R Plane Crews


718 Seventh St., New Kensington, Pa.
Antosh, Charles, Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews
464 28th St., Detroit, Mich,
Armstrong, Frederick A., Pvt.
201 So. Main
1st
St.,
CI.
Kirksville,
... Mo.
Blacksmith

Auten, Frank B., Chfr Crew Chief


Highland, HI.
Baer, Bankard F., Sgt. 1st CI. . . . Armament, C Flight
Raspeburg, Md.
Bair, Roy F., Sgt Crew Chief
The Dalles, Ore.

Barton, Clyde J., Cpl Crew Chief


Greenfield, Tenn.

Bertonz, George C, Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews


2059 W. 23rd St., Chicago, 111.

Billings, Thomas M., Chfr. . . Transportation, ChauflFeur


111 N. Summit St., Arkansas City, Kans.

79
Bittle, Roy L., Sgt. 1st CI Radio, B Flight
724 S. Liberty St., Independence, Mo.

Blackledge, LeRoy J., Cpl. Plane Crews


1232 Philo St., Scranton, Pa.

Blake, Councell A., Sgt. 1st CI. . In Charge of Crews, B Flight


Easton, Md.
Blake, Karl G., Pvt Squadron Office
Vinton, Ohio

Bly, Chris M., Pvt. Wireless Operator


Mount Pocono, Pa.

Bodvin, William L., Cpl Armament


1068 E. 27th St., N., Portland, Ore.

Boersma, Barney, Pvt Left before active service


667 N. Leonard St., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Boyle, William, Sgt Transportation Mechanic
Box 818, Billings, Mont.
Bradley, Harold C, Pvt. 1st CI Orderly
563 Winewood Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Brannan, William E., Pvt


2614 Market St., St. Louis, Mo.
Brandt, Arthur P., Chfr. . . . Transportation, Chauffeur
309 Alger St., Saginaw, Mich.
Braun, Charles H., Pvt Plane Crews
Houston, Me.

Brickey, Wilfred, Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews


Middlebury, Vt.
Brochu, Albert J., Pvt Orderly
Plainfield, Conn.
Brooks, Lewis R. Squadron Office
Kutztown, Pa.
Broome, George S., Chfr. . . . Transportation, Chauffeur
Wabash
Brown, George, Pvt.
2956

....... Ave., Chicago, 111.

Carrai, 111.
Orderly

Brown, Porter J., Sgt Crew Chief


Seymore, Texas

Brown, William L., Pvt. . . . Left before active service


McKinney, Texas
Brudnicki, Czeslaw, Pvt Squadron, Shoe Maker
2441 Walton St., Chicago, 111.

Brunk, Charles E., Pvt Left before active service


Pomeroy, Wash.
Buckley, Edward L., Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews
56 Main St., Dobbs Ferry, N. Y.
Bunn, Carl H., Pvt Transportation, Chauffeur
2417 Commerce St., Dallas, Texas
Bunning, Adolph J., Pvt., 1st CI Plane Crews
367 E. Tenth St., Portland, Ore.
Busch, William V., Sgt. Left before active service
. . .

1082 Harrison Ave., Beloit, Wis.


Busser, John R., Pvt Left before active service
632 S. Champion Ave., Columbus, Ohio
Butler, Joseph F., Sgt E. & R. Shops
495 N. Commercial St., Salem, Ore.
Buttrill, Raiford R Left before active service
Dublin, Texas

Byrth, Thomas M., Sgt. 1st CI Squadron Office


629 Rockdale Ave., Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio

Cargill, William H., Chfr Crew Chief


Jonesville, Texas
Carson, Willard F., Sgt. 1st CI Crew Chief
Toledo, Ore.
Chancellor, Abe., Pvt. . . . Transportation, Motorcycle
Box 92, Snyder, Okla.

Chew, George A., Sgt. 1st CI Crew Chief


Santa Clara, Calif.
Chittenden, Edwin A., Chfr. Transportation, Chauffeur
. .

619 Magnolia Ave., Sandford, Fla.

Clark, Howard L-, Pvt. . . . Transportation, Chauffeur


P. O. Box 159, Bellevue, Idaho
Clickner, Walter G., Chfr Plane Crews
254 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Clifton, Joseph E., Sgt Crew Chief


838 Sherman St., Johnstown, Pa.

Collins, Carter, Pvt


Seymour, Conn.

81
Conn, James H., Pvt Transportation, Chauffeur
701 Owen St., Saginaw, Mich.
Conner, John A., Chfr. . Transportation, Chauffeur
. .

W. Fourth Ave., Corsicana, Texas


Connors, James A., Pvt Plane Crews

Corcoran, Timothy
372 Chestnut

J., Pvt.
49 Hedley
......
St.,

St.,
Kingstown, Pa.

Providence, R. I,
Orderly

Craig, Roscoe J., Sgt Crew Chief


Indianola, Nebr.

Croft, Lewin R., Pvt. 1st CI Crew Chief


Box 54, Stephenville, Texas
Cross, George W., Pvt. .... Pittsburg, Texas
Left before active service

Cummins, James W., Sgt. 1st CI Machine Shop


1016 W. Sears St., Denison, Tex.

Cummings, Dewey, Pvt Orderly


1304 Broadway, Mattoon, 111.

Curry, Alfred E., Cpl Field Office


Yuma, Colo.

Davy, Jesse O., Pvt Field Lighting System


Carlson, N. D.

De Baun, Fay F., Sgt Crew Chief


Linton, Ind.

De Young, Jake R., Pvt Plane Crews


Rock Valley, Iowa
Dewey, La Vern I., Pvt. . . . Left before active service
506 Allen St., Adrian, Mich.

Dyke, Fred M., Pvt Left before active service


Gilmer, Texas

Ebright Victor, Chfr. . . Transportation, Chauffeur


.

2314 Victor St., Bellingham, Wash.


Emich, William L., Pvt. 1st CI. Cook
5144 Reisters Town Road, Arlington, Md.

England, Arlett, Cfr. 1st CI. . . Transportation, Chauffeur


Athens, Texas

England, Michael P., Pvt. . . . Left before active service


Cork, Ireland
Erickson, Harvey E, Cpl Squadron Office
112 S. Foster St., Merrill, Wise.
Farmer, William J., Pvt. 1st CI. . . Transportation, Motorcycle
321 E. 44th St., So., Portland, Ore.

Farrand, George E., Chfr Crew Chief


Pittsfield, 111.

Field, Floyd C Transportation, Chauffeur


Thomas, N. M.
Fitzgerald, Ben T., Pvt. 1st CI Water Supply
Kemp, Texas
Fletcher, Ray C, Pvt Left before active service
25 St. Louis St., Burlington, Vt.
Ford, Lyle H., Sgt
Crew Chief
Sioux City, Iowa
Forrest, Harley D., Pvt. . . Transportation, Chauffeur
.

318 W. Park St., Toledo, Ohio


Frost, George F., Chfr Cook
801 Hosmer St., Lansing, Mich.
Franklin, Lex., Chfr. . . . Transportation, Motorcycle
Eureka, Ind.
Fridge, Clifford V., Pvt
Squadron Office
Baton Rouge, La.
Frye, Hershel E E. & R.
65 W. Pleasant St., Noblesville, Ind.
Galvin, Thomas J
510 Seventh St., Bismark, N. D.
Garett, John Cpl
S.,
Radio, C Flight
Fifth St., Bernis, Tenn.
Garwood, Harry W Orderly
345 Garfield Ave., Cypress, N. Y.
Gilley, Herbert O., Pvt Cook
423 Lane St., Waterloo, Iowa
Giltner, Arthur J., Cook Cook
Conroe, Texas
Goodman, Ollen E., Sgt. 1st CI Crew Chief
1445 College Ave., Clarksville, Texas
Gottselig, Christian
802 St. Joseph St., Lancaster, Pa.

83
Grammer, George G., Cpl Supply Dept.
Pittsburg, Texas
Grant, Ulysses L., Pvt. Cook
Manteno, 111.

Greer, Edwin R., M. S. E. . . . Squadron Sergeant Major


Pittsburg, Texas
Gregory, Armen, Pvt Orderly
79J^ Kendall Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Grice, Olley R., Chfr Crew Chief
Brookhaven, Miss.
Griffin, Clinton J., Sgt E. & R.
Portland, Ore.

Griffith, James A., Sgt. 1st CI Armament

Grisso, Henry N., Pvt.


327 W. Washington
.........
Walthill, Nebr.

St., Springfield, Ohio


Halm, Louis A., Sgt. 1st CI Machine Shop
418 Harrison St., Piqua, Ohio

Halpin, William J., Pvt Bugler


Chatfield, Minn.
Hall, Edward J Armament, A Flight
R. R. No. 5, Battle Creek, Mich.

Hancock, Hiram R., Cpl. Mail Orderly


Maysville, Ga.

Hankins, Walter H., Sgt. 1st CI. . . . Chief of E. & R.


Castle Rock, Wash.
Hardesty, Hiram H., Pvt. . . Transportation, Motorcycle
.

R. R. No. 3, Piqua, Ohio

Harnish, Frank D., Sgt Squadron Office

Harrison, Harvey R., Pvt. .........


O'Neil, Nebr.

West Salem, 111.

Harsha, Orlando N., Pvt. 1st CI Radio Operator


407 N. Seventh St., Vincennes, Ind.

Harvel, Jess H., Pvt Transportation, Mechanic


314 W. Maple St., Oklahoma City, Okla.

Heckle, Charles E., Pvt


525 Taylor St., Scranton, Pa.
Hengy, George C, Sgt. . . . Injured and sent to hospital
Dallas, Texas
Henry, Aaron W., Cpl E. & R.
Apollo, Pa.

Herold, Joseph, Pvt.


Slater, Wyo.
Herren, Joseph N., Pvt Orderly
May, Okla.
Heiser, Charles W., Pvt Cook
3125 W. 63rd St., Chicago, 111.

Higgins, Leon W., Pvt Provost Sergeant


19508 Chichester Ave., Hollis, L. I., N. Y.
Hill, Frank T., Chfr Machine Shop
907 N. Carey St., Bahimore, Md.
Hill, Louis H., Sgt. 1st CI Mess Sergeant
2009 Webster St., Oakland, Calif.

Honeycutt, Baker M., Pvt Plane Crews


Greenwood, La.
Horn, Paul, Pvt
Moose Head, Minn.
Houtz, Harry L., Pvt. 1st CI Orderly
213 Schuylkill Ave., Tamaka, Pa.
Hubbell, Aaron W., Sgt. 1st CI. Chief Radio Operator
. . .

1520 Lincoln Ave., Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio

Hughart, Walter, Pvt


Box 34, Saverton, Mo.
Hunsaker, Omer L., Chfr Crew Chief
Golden, 111.

Hyde, James R., Pvt Transportation


659 Wellington Ave., Chicago
Irwin, William, Pvt.
Gen. Del., Danville, 111.

Isaacson, Walter S Plane Crews


2625 Pillsbury Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.

Jaeger, George H., Sgt Plane Crews


Iroquois Falls, New Ontario, Canada
Jones, Robert O., Sgt. 1st CI Supply Sergeant
Maybank, Texas

8S
Johnson, Paul J., Sgt. 1st CI. . . In charge of crews, C Flight
118 S. Fourth St., Union City, Tenn.
Justus, Edward C, Chfr. . . . Transportation, Chauffeur
1107 W. Main St., Urbana, 111.

Kaake, William R., Pvt Cook


466 Woodlawn Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Ketterman, Harry A., Pvt. . . . Left before active service


30 N. 17th St., Portland, Ore.

Key, Ellis W., M. S. E Transportation Chief


Bryan, Ohio

Killman, William H., Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews


15 S. Elwood Ave., Baltimore, Md.
Kimball, Heber C, Pvt
Safford, Ariz.

Kendricks, William G., Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews


99 N. Electric Ave., Alhambra, Calif.

King, Hugh R., Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews


112 S. Prospect St., Connelsville, Pa.

King, Wade C, Sgt. 1st CI Armament Chief


Mill St., Louisville, Ohio
Klapsch, Fred., Pvt Left before active service
399 Howard St., Detroit, Mich.

Klippstein, Theodore A., Cpl Squadron Office


Morris, Minn.

Lackey, Stamie, Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews


Hiddenite, N. C.

Lambert, Lucas A., M. S. E. . . . . . Machine Shop


North Windsor, Md.

La Mont, George A.
5728 Julian
...... St., St. Louis, Mo.
. Orderly

Lane, Clifford H., Cook Cook


2001 E. Sixth St., Pueblo, Colo.

Larson, Elmer P., Pvt Plane Crews


712 Barnes St., Lewistown, Mont.

Layton, Anthony A., Pvt. 1st CI Orderly


2209 N. Ninth St., St. Louis, Mo.
Lekven, Carl, Pvt. 1st CI Orderly
110 Passaic Ave., Harrison, N. J.

86
Lewis, Rufus, Pvt. ••........
Springfield, Minn.
Love, John E., Pvt
Tompkinsville, Md.
Loveridge, William G., Sgt Armament, B Flight
723 E. Arcadia Ave., Peoria, 111.

Martin, Fred L., Cpl E. & R,


Mossyrock, Wash.
McAndrews, Robert S., Pvt. . . Transportation, Motorcycle
Lane, Idaho

McCann, Patrick J., Pvt. 1st CI


189 Whittenton St., Taunton, Mass.
McDowell, Ralph L., Cook Cook
647 S. 14th St., Salem, Ore.

McLay, Charles R., Pvt Cook


Portland, Ore.

McReynolds, Thomas R., Pvt, . . Left before active service


706 Wabash Ave., Ottumwa, Iowa
McVicar, Clarence V., Pvt.
Wetumpka, Ala.
McWhirter, Richard C, Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews
306 McBrayer St., Shelby, N. C.

Mason, Thomas M., Cpl. Supply Dept.


c/o The Murray Co., Atlanta, Ga.
Mathieu, Frank, Pvt Squadron Tailor
7 Chestnut St., Spencer, Mass.

Medlin, George B., Sgt. 1st CI Crew Chief


Galatia, 111.

Meullier, Ray W., Cfr. 1st CI. Motorcycle Dispatch Rider


. .

c/o Dr. Meullier, Vergennes, Vt.


Miller, Arthur P., Sgt Left for pilot school
Nelighy, Nebr.

Mills, Joe, Pvt Left before active service


Pawhuska, Okla.
Monahan, James H., Pvt
4 Cottage St., Marblehead, Mass.
Morrow, Hoy, Cpl Plane Crews
Parkville, Mo.

87
Mulcahy, Charles R., Pvt. . . . . . . Armament
98 Cleveland Ave., North Adams, Mass.
Neuendorf, Pearleao, Pvt
Essex, Ontario, Canada
Nerisen, Baldie, Pvt Carpenter
412 N. Fourth St., Albuquerque, N. M.
Nolting, Ray E., Pvt Orderly
4719 Hamraett Pi., St. Louis, Mo.
O'Connell, Dan P., Sgt. 1st Cl Crew Chief
22 N. 20th St., Portland, Ore.

Oehlert, Herschel E., Pvt. . . . Left before active service


Woodburn, Iowa
Pfeiffer, Herbert H., Sgt. 1st Cl Crew Chief
Hooper, Nebt.

Pino, August J., Pvt. 1st Cl. Plane Crews


615 Baronne St., New Orleans, La.

Quandt, Ray J., Pvt. ....


Royalton, Wise.
Transportation ChauflFeur

Quinn, Harry J., Pvt.


2601
....
W. Third St.,
Came home with Squadron
Chester, Pa.

Race, Harold L., Pvt Plane Crews


106 South Ave., Marshaltown, Iowa

Raikes, Lawrence W., Pvt Squadron Barber


R. F. D. "B," Box 216, Bentonville, Kans.

Rich, David A., M. S. E Machine Shop


Heard National Bank, Jacksonville, Fla.

Richardson, Delmer E., Sgt Armament


Lawrence, Mass.

Richey, Owen, Chfr. 1st Cl Crew Chief


Olmsted, 111.

Sanquist, Evald, Sgt E. & R. Shops


Natick Ave., Greenwood, R. I.

Savage, Arthur F., Pvt Orderly


R. F. D., Box 44, Montague, Mass.

Scudder, George D., Pvt. Orderly


83 Broad St., Bethlehem, Pa.

Sharp, William M., Cpl Field Office


Philomath, Ore.

88
Sill, Roscoe T,, Sgt. 1st CI Transportation
915 E. 16th St., University Place, Nebr.

Sload, Charles L., Pvt


1224 Market St., Harrisburg, Pa.

Small, Fred W., M. S. E Machine Shop


Box 891, Nowata, Okla.
Stacy, Noel C, Pvt Plane Crews
405 Pendleton Ave,, St. Joseph, Mo.
Stetson, Henry A., Chfr. 1st CI Transportation
Pueblo, Colo.

Stewart, Harold E., Pvt Cook


Golden, 111.

St. John, Howard K Left before active service


1215 W. 40th St., Oklahoma City, Okla.

Stierwalt, John E., Cook Cook


Murray, Iowa
Stone, George T., Pvt Plane Crews
2728 W. 36th Ave., Denver, Colo.

Strugatz, Geo. H., Pvt Orderly


Springfield Ave., Queens, N. Y.

Swank, John F., Cook Cook


2509 Everett St., Houston, Texas
Sytek, Henry F., Cpl Supply Dept.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
737 Sixth

Swearengen, Clarence A., Pvt.


St.,

........
401 Poplar St., West Terre Haute, Ind.

Taylor, Harold, Pvt Transportation, Motorcycle


Carson Lake, Minn.
Tiller, Louin, Sgt Crew Chief
R. F. D. No. 1, Jones, Okla.

Tipps, Charles R Transportation


Canadian, Texas

Tooher, James C Orderly


56 Sound Ave., Stamford, Conn.

Toye, Henry H., Cook Cook


Broken Arrow, Okla.

Tully, John L., Pvt. 1st CI Plane Crews


Dorset, Vt.

89
Van Sickle, Arthur W., Sgt Crew Chief
c/o Maj. Schauffler, Kelly Field, Texas

Wade, W. Denson, Cpl Supply Dept.


Cochran, Ga.

Walsh, Joseph S., Cpl


Freemansburg, W. Va.

White, Ira H., Pvt Orderly


Robinson, Kans.

Wilson, Herman R
3611 Howell St., Dallas, Texas
York, Edwin B., Sgt. 1st CI. . . In Charge of Crews, A Flight
Port Republic, N. J.

Zelesnig, Frank, Cook Cook


San Francisco, Calif.

MEDICAL DETACHMENT
Baird, Sanford R Fort Worth Texas
Daniel, Doog, Pvt Butler, Texas
Davis, Arthur J., Pvt Florence, Texas
Dolive, Charles W., Sgt. . . . P. O. Box 12, Oakhurst, Texas

Kempf, Charles W., Pvt. . . 760 Atlantic Ave., Lancaster, Pa.

Lindgren, Pete, Pvt. . . Rt. No. 3, Box 31, Vancouver, Wash.

Love, Hugh C, Pvt. . . 320 E. Third Ave., Gastonia, N. C.


CASUALTIES
Officers
Baldwin, 2nd Lieut., A. S.
380-B Kane Place, Milwaukee, Wise.
Killed in railroad wreck, December, 1918

Broomfield, Hugh 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


527 Tacoma Ave., Portland, Ore.
Killed in action, October 21, 1918

Bolt, 1st Lieut. F. A., Observer


New York City
Killed in action at Chateau Thierry, with 1st Aero Squadron
Cook, Harry 2nd Lieut. A. S.
Killed in railroad wreck, December, 1918

Cutter, Edward B 1st Lieut. F. A., Observer


Anoka, Minn.
Killed in action, October 21, 1918

Cowle, Harland H 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


164 Poplar Conneaut, Ohio
St.,

Died of pneumonia in base hospital, December, 1918


Hathaway, Edward T 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot
Killed in accident, June, 1918

Maynor, Elbridge W 2nd Lieut. A. S., Observer


Killed in accident, June, 1918

Merz, Harold B 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


Killed in accident, December, 1918

Patterson, A. B 1st Lieut. A. S., Pilot


438 Franklin Ave., Wilkinsburg, Pa.
Killed in action, October 29, 1918, with 93rd Aero Squadron

ENLISTED MEN
Engdahl, Carl A. ... 42 Mt. Elliott Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Died of pneumonia, January 27, 1918
Gipson, Antony W Lawton, Okla.
Killed in accident, April 29, 1918

91
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