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The 103rd Aero Squadron was an aviation pursuit squadron of the U.S. Air Service that served in combat in France during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Its original complement included pilots from the disbanded
Lafayette Escadrille The La Fayette Escadrille (french: Escadrille de La Fayette) was the name of the French Air Force unit escadrille N 124 during the First World War (1914–1918). This escadrille of the ''Aéronautique Militaire'' was composed largely of Ameri ...
and
Lafayette Flying Corps The Lafayette Flying Corps is a name given to the American volunteer pilots who flew in the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) during World War I. It includes the pilots who flew with the bona fide Lafayette Escadrille squadron. Numbers The ...
. One of those pilots, Paul F. Baer, became the first ace of an American unit in World War I.See note below. Baer's fifth victory, as recognized by the Air Force Historical Research Agency, occurred 23 April, more than a month before the fifth of Douglas Campbell. Campbell at that date still had only a single victory. The 103rd Aero Squadron was the first U.S. pursuit squadron in action during World War I and had the longest combat service, from 19 February to 11 November 1918. It earned six battle participation credits, flew 470 combat missions, engaged in 327 combats, destroyed 45 German aircraft in aerial combat and claimed an additional 40 as probably destroyed, shot down two balloons, flew 3,075 hours over the front lines, and dropped 4,620 pounds of bombs. Its casualties were five killed in action, two killed in flying accidents, four
prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold priso ...
, three
wounded in action Wounded in Action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically, it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing ...
, and one injured in a forced landing. The commander of the
1st Pursuit Wing 001, O01, or OO1 may refer to: *1 (number), a number, a numeral *001, fictional British agent, see 00 Agent *001, former emergency telephone number for the Norwegian fire brigade (until 1986) *AM-RB 001, the code-name for the Aston Martin Valkyrie ...
, in general orders, said of the 103rd:
"In February last the Lafayette Escadrille of the French Army was transferred to the 103rd Aero Squadron, United States Army. It was the first, and for nearly two months it was the only American Air Service organization on the front. Since that time it is not too much to say that pilots who served in this squadron have formed the backbone of American Pursuit Aviation on the front...No task was too arduous or too hazardous for it to perform successfully. In the recent decisive operations of the First American Army the 103rd Aero Squadron has done its share." – Lt. Col. Burt M. Atkinson, 16 November 1918
The history and lineage of the 103rd Aero Squadron continues as part of the
94th Fighter Squadron The 94th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force 1st Operations Group located at Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. The 94th is equipped with the F-22 Raptor. The 94 FS is one of the oldest units in the United States Ai ...
of the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
.


History

The 103rd Aero Squadron was organized on 31 August 1917 at
Kelly Field Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) is a Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he was piloting. In ...
,
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, where its enlisted members, drawn from other units, trained until being moved to
Garden City, New York Garden City is a village located on Long Island in Nassau County New York. It is the Greater Garden City area's anchor community. The population was 23,272 at the 2020 census. The Incorporated Village of Garden City is primarily located within ...
for preparation for overseas movement. On 23 November 1917 the unit sailed on board the RMS ''Baltic'' from its port of embarkation at New York City. The ''Baltic'' joined a convoy at
Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
and arrived at
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
on 7 December 1917. Because of a
measles Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by measles virus. Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days. Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than , cough, ...
outbreak, it was
quarantined A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have been ...
at Winnall Down Camp outside
Winchester Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...
until 23 December 1917, when it proceeded to France through
Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
and
Le Havre Le Havre (, ; nrf, Lé Hâvre ) is a port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the river Seine on the Channel southwest of the Pays de Caux, very cl ...
. The squadron arrived at
Issoudun Issoudun () is a commune in the Indre department, administrative region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is also referred to as ''Issoundun'', which is the ancient name. Geography Location Issoudun is a sub-prefecture, located in the east o ...
on 28 December 1917, where it spent the month of January constructing hangars for the instructional school being built there. On 1 February it resumed training for combat at the front. On 11 February 1918 Major William Thaw, formerly with the Lafayette Escadrille, took command of the 103rd Squadron at the Ferme de La Noblette, near
La Cheppe La Cheppe () is a commune in the Marne department in the Grand Est region in north-eastern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas region ...
, followed on 18 February by the assignment of 17 former pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Corps.; later in 1918 the AEF standardized the
Table of Organization and Equipment A table of organization and equipment (TOE or TO&E) is the specified organization, staffing, and equipment of Military unit, units. Also used in acronyms as 'T/O' and 'T/E'. It also provides information on the mission and capabilities of a unit as ...
for pursuit squadrons at 18 pilots and 25 aircraft
Combat operations began almost immediately in early March, using
Spad VII The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and r ...
fighters, and flying with the newly formed ''Groupe de Combat 21'' (21st Pursuit Group) of the ''Aéronautique Militaire'' in support of the French 4th Army, and the squadron recorded its first aerial victory on 11 March. At La Noblette, the squadron was relieved by another French Escadrille and moved west on 10 April to the Reims area, in support of the French 6th Army, then north to the coast of the North Sea at
Leffrinckoucke Leffrinckoucke (; nl, Leffrinkhoeke; vls, Leffrinkoeke) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Heraldry Population Twin towns Leffrinckoucke is twinned with: * Węgorzewo in Poland In popular culture The end scenes of ...
on 2 May, to support the French Detachment of Army of the North until 29 June. While at Leffrinckoucke its airdrome was subjected to frequent air attacks, and it received a citation 22 October 1918 from the commander in chief of the French Armies of the North and Northeast for its "brilliance" in operations in the face of adversity. The display of its distinctive "Indian Head" insignia from the Lafayette Escadrille was authorized by the Chief of Air Service AEF, Brig. Gen.
Benjamin Foulois Benjamin Delahauf Foulois (December 9, 1879 – April 25, 1967) was a United States Army general who learned to fly the first military planes purchased from the Wright brothers. He became the first military aviator as an airship pilot, and achi ...
, on 6 May 1918. Two days later 1st Lt. Paul F. Baer shot down two German airplanes to become the first ace of an American unit.Baer's kills were on 11 March, 16 March, 6 April, 12 April, 23 April (half), 8 May (two), 21 May (one quarter), and 22 May. AFHRA credits him with nine victories.
''Gorrell's History'', Series E (Squadron Histories) Volume 16, Part 1 Sheet 13
By mid-May the 103rd was the leading American pursuit squadron, with half of the AEF's 28 aerial victories. Baer was the sole ace of the AEF, with nearly one-third of all victories, but he was shot down in a fight with eight
Albatros D.V The Albatros D.V is a fighter aircraft built by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke and used by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family and the last Albatro ...
a fighters of the ''Leutnant der Reserve'' August Raben-led
Jasta 18 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 18 was a "hunting squadron" (fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. History The Jasta was formed on 30 October 1916, at Halluin under 4th Armee aus ...
near
Laventie Laventie (; vls, Wentie) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Geography A small farming and light industrial town, situated some northeast of Béthune and west of Lille, at the junction of the ...
on 22 May, after ''Gefreiter'' Deberitz of Jasta 18 severed the flight control cables of Baer's
SPAD VII The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and r ...
with the gunfire from his Albatros, and Baer was captured following his crash, with only a broken knee as his sole injury. On 4 July 1918 the squadron relocated to
Toul Toul () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Toul is between Commercy and Nancy, and the river Moselle and Canal de la Marne au Rhin. Climate Toul h ...
and was assigned to an American command, the 2nd Pursuit Group. On 29 July Thaw moved up to command of the new 3rd Pursuit Group and was replaced by Lafayette Escadrille veteran Capt. Robert L. Rockwell. The 103rd relocated to
Vaucouleurs Vaucouleurs () is a commune in the Meuse department, northeastern France. It is situated on the river Meuse, approximately from Toul and Commercy. History Geoffrey de Geneville, 1st Baron Geneville (1225/33 – 21 October 1314) also known as G ...
in the
Meuse The Meuse ( , , , ; wa, Moûze ) or Maas ( , ; li, Maos or ) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a t ...
department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
of France for operations with the 3rd Pursuit Group. In September the squadron shifted northwest to
Lisle-en-Barrois Lisle-en-Barrois (, literally ''Lisle in Barrois'') is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. See also *Communes of the Meuse department The following is a list of the 499 communes of the Meuse department of ...
to support the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On 18 October, Capt. Robert Soubiran, another Escadrille veteran and a former member of the 103rd, returned to the squadron to take command. The squadron recorded its last aerial combat on 4 November near
Montmédy Montmédy (, german: Mittelberg) is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Citadel of Montmédy In 1221 the first castle of Montmédy was built on top of a hill by the Count of Chiny. Montmédy soon became the ...
, claiming three aircraft destroyed. At the hour of the armistice, the squadron had 21 Spad XIIIs and 21 pilots available for operations. Three of the five pursuit groups operational at the end of the war were commanded by former pilots of the 103rd Aero Squadron, and ten other pilots were selected to command pursuit squadrons.Thaw, Biddle, and Hill commanded the 3rd, 4th and 5th Groups, respectively, while Soubiran (103rd), Rockwell (103rd), Marr (94th), Peterson (95th), Hill (138th), Bridgman (22nd), Biddle (13th), Baker (141st), Low (185th), and C. M. Jones (28th) received squadron commands. 14 pilots received 21 awards of the French ''Croix de Guerre'', and eight received 17 awards of the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...
. Seven pilots were recognized as aces with five recording all their kills with the 103rd. Beginning 13 September 1918, 1st Lt. Frank O'D. Hunter shot down eight German aircraft in six weeks, tying Baer for the lead in squadron victories, for which he received five awards of the DSC and the ''Croix de Guerre'' with palm. Baer was released at the Armistice by the Germans and returned to the squadron. He submitted a claim for a kill occurring on the morning he was shot down, which was confirmed, and became the leading ace of the 103rd with nine victories. After the armistice, the squadron was based at Foucaucourt and assigned to the First Army, alerted for possible occupation service with the Third Army. It received nine new pilots in early December, but was taken off operations on 14 December. The squadron's SPAD aircraft were delivered to the Air Service American Air Service Acceptance Park No. 1 at Orly Aerodrome to be returned to the French. There practically all of the pilots and observers were detached from the squadron. All of its pilots except four were transferred out of the squadron by 4 January 1919, and those four by 24 January. The remainder of the squadron and its equipment followed by truck within a week. Soubiran turned over command to the squadron adjutant, 1st Lt. John P. Healy, at Colombey-les-Belles on 1 February 1919. Personnel at Colombey were moved to their port of embarkation at
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and sailed to New York aboard the armored cruiser USS ''Frederick'' on 19 February 1919. The 103rd returned to Garden City to muster out its personnel, and became a unit on paper only by 18 March. It officially demobilized on 18 August 1919. On 8 April 1924 the 103rd Aero Squadron was reconstituted and consolidated with the
94th Pursuit Squadron The 94th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force 1st Operations Group located at Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. The 94th is equipped with the F-22 Raptor. The 94 FS is one of the oldest units in the United States Ai ...
to maintain its history and lineage.94th FS USAF Fact Sheet
, AFHRA. Retrieved 2012-11-26.


Lineage

* Organized as 103rd Aero Squadron on 31 August 1917 : Re-designated as: 103rd Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 13 February 1918 : Absorbed American pilots of Escadrille de Lafayette (Aéronautique Militaire), 18 February 1918 : Re-designated as: 103rd Aero Squadron, 4 March 1919 * Demobilized on 18 Aug 1919Series "E", Volume 7, History of the 103rd Squadron. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.


Assignments

* Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 31 August 1917 * Aviation Concentration Center, 5 November 1917 * 3rd Air Instructional Center, 28 December 1917 * Air Service Headquarters, AEF, 13 February 1918 : Attached to ''Groupe de Combat 21'',
Fourth Army (France) The Fourth Army (french: IVe Armée) was a Field army of the French Army, which fought during World War I and World War II. Commanders World War I 258px, Tribute to the Fourth Army which liberated Sommepy-Tahure. *General Fernand de Langle de Ca ...
18 February 1918 – 10 April 1918 : Attached to
Sixth Army (France) The Sixth Army (french: 6eme Armée) was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. World War I The Sixth Army was formed 26 August 1914, composed of troops from various disparate French armies: two active army corps, th ...
11 April 1918 to 30 April 1917 : Attached to
Army of the North (France) The Army of the North or Armée du Nord is a name given to several historical units of the French Army. The first was one of the French Revolutionary Armies that fought with distinction against the First Coalition from 1792 to 1795. Others existe ...
31 April 1918 to 4 July 1918 * 2nd Pursuit Group, 4 July 1918 *
3rd Pursuit Group The 3rd Pursuit Group was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I as part of the First United States Army. Formed in France in July 1918, the group was assigned to the 1st Pursuit Wing and saw ac ...
, 7 August 1918 * 1st Air Depot, 5 January 1919 * Commanding General, Services of Supply, 6–19 February 1919 * Eastern Department, 4 March – 18 Aug 1919


Stations

*
Kelly Field Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) is a Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he was piloting. In ...
, Texas, 31 August – 30 October 1917 *
Aviation Concentration Center Camp Albert L. Mills (Camp Mills) was a military installation on Long Island, New York. It was located about ten miles from the eastern boundary of New York City on the Hempstead Plains within what is now the village of Garden City. In September ...
, Garden City, New York, 5 November 1917 :: Overseas transport:
RMS Baltic RMS ''Baltic ''was an ocean liner of the White Star Line that sailed between 1904 and 1932. At 23,876 Gross register tonnage, she was the world's largest ship until May 1906. She was the third of a quartet of ships, all measuring over 20,000 g ...
, 23 November – 7 December *
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
, England, 8 December * Windall Downs Rest Camp,
Winchester Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...
, England, 8 December *
Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
, England, 23 December * American Rest Camp,
Le Havre Le Havre (, ; nrf, Lé Hâvre ) is a port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the river Seine on the Channel southwest of the Pays de Caux, very cl ...
, France, 24 December *
Issoudun Aerodrome Issoudun Aerodrome was a complex of military airfields in the vicinity of Issoudun, Centre, France. They were used during World War I as part of the Third Air Instructional Center, American Expeditionary Forces for training United States airmen ...
, France, 28 December * La Noblette Aerodrome, France, 13 Feb 1918 * Bonne Maison Aerodrome, France, 8 April 1918 * Leffrinckouke Aerodrome, France, 30 April 1918 * Crochte Aerodrome, France, 6 June 1918 *
Gengault Aerodrome Toul-Croix De Metz Airfield is a former military airfield which is located approximately northeast of Toul (Département de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine); east of Paris. The airfield had its probable origins as early as 1912, as an ''Aéronau ...
(Toul), France, 30 June 1918 *
Vaucouleurs Aerodrome 'VaucouleursAerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located West-Northwest of Vaucouleurs, in the Meuse department of France, located approximately from Paris. Overview The airfield was built during the spring of 19 ...
, France, 7 August 1918 *
Lisle-en-Barrois Aerodrome Lisle-en-Barrois Aerodrome was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located on the plateau north of the commune of Lisle-en-Barrois, in the Meuse department in north-eastern France. Overview In 1915, the French escadrille MS 37 sta ...
, France, 20 September 1918 *
Foucaucourt Aerodrome :''Please note there was another temporary WWI aerodrome called Foucaucourt at Foucaucourt-en-Santerre in the Somme department, used by the Germans, then by the RAF at the very end of the war'' Foucaucourt Aerodrome was a temporary World War I a ...
, France, 6 November 1918 *
Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome : ''see also: Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force'' When the United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917, the Air Service of the United States Army existed only as a branch of the Signal Corps, and was kno ...
, France, 5 January 1919 *
Brest, France Brest (; ) is a port city in the Finistère department, Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of the peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French mi ...
, 6–19 Feb 1919 *
Garden City, New York Garden City is a village located on Long Island in Nassau County New York. It is the Greater Garden City area's anchor community. The population was 23,272 at the 2020 census. The Incorporated Village of Garden City is primarily located within ...
, 4–18 Mar 1919 * Undetermined, 19 March – 18 Aug 1919


Combat sectors and campaigns


Aces

*Maj.
Gervais Raoul Lufbery Gervais Raoul Victor Lufbery (March 14, 1885 – May 19, 1918) was a French and American fighter pilot and flying ace in World War I. Because he served in both the French Air Force, and later the United States Army Air Service in World War I, ...
, with a total of 17 aerial victories, until his death in combat * Lt. Paul F. Baer, DSC, 9 (2 shared) * Maj. Charles J. Biddle, 1 (1 probable)-Biddle had a total of 7 aerial victories, 1 while serving with Spa73 of the French Air Service, and 5 after being transferred to the 13th Aero Squadron. * Lt. George W. Furlow, DSC, 5 (4 shared) * Capt. Frank O'Driscoll Hunter, DSC, 9 (3 shared) * Capt. G. DeFreest Larner, DSC, 5 (3 shared)- Larner a total of 7 aerial victories, 2 while serving with Spa86 of the French Air Service. * Lt. William T. Ponder, DSC, 3 (2 shared- Ponder had a total of 6 aerial victories, 3 while serving with Spa163 of the French Air Service. * LtCol.
William Thaw II Lieutenant Colonel William Thaw II () was an American combat aviator who served in World War I and became a flying ace. Credited with five confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories, he is believed to be the first American to engage in aerial ...
, DSC, 3 (2 shared)- Thaw had a total of 5 aerial victories, 2 (along with 2 probables) while serving with N.124 of the French Air Service. * Lt. Edgar G. Tobin, DSC, 6 (2 shared, 1 probable)Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918 Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0- 948817-54-2, .


Other personnel

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;_KIA:__killed_in_action


_Officers_assigned_during_hostilities

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A_♦_symbol_indicates_present_for_duty_on_11_November_1918
Pilots *_2nd_Lt._William_C._Appleton♦ *_''1st_Lt.__Paul_F._Baer''_(prisoner_of_war,_ace) *_1st_Lt._ ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America">Soaring_Society_of_America.html"_;"title="ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America">ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America*_Lt._John_Frost,_DSC,_2_aerial_victories *_Cpt._Christopher_W._Ford,_DSC,_3_aerial_victories *_Lt._Ernest_A._Giroux,_DSC_(KIA)__ *_:File:James_Normal_Hall.pdf">Cpt._James_Norman_Hall,_DSC,_3_aerial_victories *_Lt._Warren_T._Hobbs,_SSC_(KIA) *_Lt._Livingston_G._Irving,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory__ *_Lt._Eugene_B._Jones,_SSC_(KIA) *_Cpt._Richard_C._M._Page,_DSC,_2_aerial_victories *_Lt._Percy_R._Pyne,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory_ *_Lt._John_I._Rancourt,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory *_Lt._Joseph_Waddell,_SSC _DSC:_Distinguished_Service_Cross_The_Distinguished_Service_Cross_(D.S.C.)_is_a_military_decoration_for_courage.__Different_versions_exist_for_different_countries. *Distinguished_Service_Cross_(Australia)_ The_Distinguished_Service_Cross_(DSC)_is_a_military_decoration_awarded_to__...
;_SSC:_Citation_Star">Silver_Star_Citation_ The_Citation_Star_was_a__Department_of_War_personal_valor_decoration_issued_as_a__ribbon_device_which_was_first_established_by_the_United_States_Congress_on_July_9,_1918_(Bulletin_No._43,_War_Dept._1918).__When_awarded,_a__silver_star_was_placed_o_...
;_KIA:__killed_in_action


_Officers_assigned_during_hostilities

Former_members_of_Lafayette_Flying_Corps_in_''italics'';_former_members_of_Lafayette_Escadrille_in_bold
A_♦_symbol_indicates_present_for_duty_on_11_November_1918
Pilots *_2nd_Lt._William_C._Appleton♦ *_''1st_Lt.__Paul_F._Baer''_(prisoner_of_war,_ace) *_1st_Lt._Hobey_Baker">Hobart_A.H._Baker *_1st_Lt._Herbert_B._Bartholf♦ *_''Capt.__Charles_J._Biddle''_(ace) *_Capt._Ray_C._Bridgman *_1st_Lt._B._Drumond_Cannon *_1st_Lt._Lawrence_E._Cauffman♦ *_2nd_Lt._Loran_B._Cockrell♦ *_''Capt._Phelps_Collins''_(Killed_in_flying_accident) *_1st_Lt._Charles_H._Dolan *_1st_Lt._William_E._Dugan_Jr. *_1st_Lt._Paul_W._Eaton_(Prisoner_of_war) *_1st_Lt._Warren_E._Eaton♦ *_''1st_Lt._Stuart_E._Edgar''_(Killed_in_flying_accident) *_''2nd_Lt._Clarence_H._Faith''♦ *_1st_Lt._Christopher_W._Ford_(Prisoner_of_war) *_1st_Lt._John_Frost♦ *_1st_Lt.__George_W._Furlow♦_(ace) *_1st_Lt._Ernest_A._Giroux_(Killed_in_action) *_Capt._ ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America">Soaring_Society_of_America.html"_;"title="ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America">ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America*_Lt._John_Frost,_DSC,_2_aerial_victories *_Cpt._Christopher_W._Ford,_DSC,_3_aerial_victories *_Lt._Ernest_A._Giroux,_DSC_(KIA)__ *_:File:James_Normal_Hall.pdf">Cpt._James_Norman_Hall,_DSC,_3_aerial_victories *_Lt._Warren_T._Hobbs,_SSC_(KIA) *_Lt._Livingston_G._Irving,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory__ *_Lt._Eugene_B._Jones,_SSC_(KIA) *_Cpt._Richard_C._M._Page,_DSC,_2_aerial_victories *_Lt._Percy_R._Pyne,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory_ *_Lt._John_I._Rancourt,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory *_Lt._Joseph_Waddell,_SSC _DSC:_Distinguished_Service_Cross_The_Distinguished_Service_Cross_(D.S.C.)_is_a_military_decoration_for_courage.__Different_versions_exist_for_different_countries. *Distinguished_Service_Cross_(Australia)_ The_Distinguished_Service_Cross_(DSC)_is_a_military_decoration_awarded_to__...
;_SSC:_Citation_Star">Silver_Star_Citation_ The_Citation_Star_was_a__Department_of_War_personal_valor_decoration_issued_as_a__ribbon_device_which_was_first_established_by_the_United_States_Congress_on_July_9,_1918_(Bulletin_No._43,_War_Dept._1918).__When_awarded,_a__silver_star_was_placed_o_...
;_KIA:__killed_in_action


_Officers_assigned_during_hostilities

Former_members_of_Lafayette_Flying_Corps_in_''italics'';_former_members_of_Lafayette_Escadrille_in_bold
A_♦_symbol_indicates_present_for_duty_on_11_November_1918
Pilots *_2nd_Lt._William_C._Appleton♦ *_''1st_Lt.__Paul_F._Baer''_(prisoner_of_war,_ace) *_1st_Lt._Hobey_Baker">Hobart_A.H._Baker *_1st_Lt._Herbert_B._Bartholf♦ *_''Capt.__Charles_J._Biddle''_(ace) *_Capt._Ray_C._Bridgman *_1st_Lt._B._Drumond_Cannon *_1st_Lt._Lawrence_E._Cauffman♦ *_2nd_Lt._Loran_B._Cockrell♦ *_''Capt._Phelps_Collins''_(Killed_in_flying_accident) *_1st_Lt._Charles_H._Dolan *_1st_Lt._William_E._Dugan_Jr. *_1st_Lt._Paul_W._Eaton_(Prisoner_of_war) *_1st_Lt._Warren_E._Eaton♦ *_''1st_Lt._Stuart_E._Edgar''_(Killed_in_flying_accident) *_''2nd_Lt._Clarence_H._Faith''♦ *_1st_Lt._Christopher_W._Ford_(Prisoner_of_war) *_1st_Lt._John_Frost♦ *_1st_Lt.__George_W._Furlow♦_(ace) *_1st_Lt._Ernest_A._Giroux_(Killed_in_action) *_Capt._James_Norman_Hall">James_N._Hall *_Capt._Dudley_L._Hill *_''1st_Lt._Warren_T._Hobbs''_(Killed_in_action) *_1st_Lt._Theodore_H._Hubbard♦ *_1st_Lt.__Frank_O'D._Hunter♦_(ace) *_1st_Lt._Livingston_Gilson_Irving.html" ;"title="James_Norman_Hall.html" ;"title="Hobey_Baker.html" ;"title="Citation_Star.html" "title="Soaring Society of America">ounder Soaring_Society_of_America.html"_;"title="ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America">ounder_Soaring_Society_of_America*_Lt._John_Frost,_DSC,_2_aerial_victories *_Cpt._Christopher_W._Ford,_DSC,_3_aerial_victories *_Lt._Ernest_A._Giroux,_DSC_(KIA)__ *_:File:James_Normal_Hall.pdf">Cpt._James_Norman_Hall,_DSC,_3_aerial_victories *_Lt._Warren_T._Hobbs,_SSC_(KIA) *_Lt._Livingston_G._Irving,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory__ *_Lt._Eugene_B._Jones,_SSC_(KIA) *_Cpt._Richard_C._M._Page,_DSC,_2_aerial_victories *_Lt._Percy_R._Pyne,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory_ *_Lt._John_I._Rancourt,_DSC,_1_aerial_victory *_Lt._Joseph_Waddell,_SSC _DSC:_Distinguished_Service_Cross_The_Distinguished_Service_Cross_(D.S.C.)_is_a_military_decoration_for_courage.__Different_versions_exist_for_different_countries. *Distinguished_Service_Cross_(Australia)_ The_Distinguished_Service_Cross_(DSC)_is_a_military_decoration_awarded_to__...
;_SSC:_Citation_Star">Silver_Star_Citation_ The_Citation_Star_was_a__Department_of_War_personal_valor_decoration_issued_as_a__ribbon_device_which_was_first_established_by_the_United_States_Congress_on_July_9,_1918_(Bulletin_No._43,_War_Dept._1918).__When_awarded,_a__silver_star_was_placed_o_...
;_KIA:__killed_in_action


_Officers_assigned_during_hostilities

Former_members_of_Lafayette_Flying_Corps_in_''italics'';_former_members_of_Lafayette_Escadrille_in_bold
A_♦_symbol_indicates_present_for_duty_on_11_November_1918
Pilots *_2nd_Lt._William_C._Appleton♦ *_''1st_Lt.__Paul_F._Baer''_(prisoner_of_war,_ace) *_1st_Lt._Hobey_Baker">Hobart_A.H._Baker *_1st_Lt._Herbert_B._Bartholf♦ *_''Capt.__Charles_J._Biddle''_(ace) *_Capt._Ray_C._Bridgman *_1st_Lt._B._Drumond_Cannon *_1st_Lt._Lawrence_E._Cauffman♦ *_2nd_Lt._Loran_B._Cockrell♦ *_''Capt._Phelps_Collins''_(Killed_in_flying_accident) *_1st_Lt._Charles_H._Dolan *_1st_Lt._William_E._Dugan_Jr. *_1st_Lt._Paul_W._Eaton_(Prisoner_of_war) *_1st_Lt._Warren_E._Eaton♦ *_''1st_Lt._Stuart_E._Edgar''_(Killed_in_flying_accident) *_''2nd_Lt._Clarence_H._Faith''♦ *_1st_Lt._Christopher_W._Ford_(Prisoner_of_war) *_1st_Lt._John_Frost♦ *_1st_Lt.__George_W._Furlow♦_(ace) *_1st_Lt._Ernest_A._Giroux_(Killed_in_action) *_Capt._James_Norman_Hall">James_N._Hall *_Capt._Dudley_L._Hill *_''1st_Lt._Warren_T._Hobbs''_(Killed_in_action) *_1st_Lt._Theodore_H._Hubbard♦ *_1st_Lt.__Frank_O'D._Hunter♦_(ace) *_1st_Lt._Livingston_Gilson_Irving">Livingston_G._Irving♦ *_''1st_Lt._C._Maury_Jones'' *_1st_Lt._Eugene_B._Jones_(Killed_in_action) *_1st_Lt._Henry_S._Jones *_''1st_Lt._Hugo_A._Kenyon''♦ *_1st_Lt._John_O._Kirtland♦ *_1st_Lt._John_M._Koontz_(Wounded_in_action) *_''Capt.__G._DeFreest_Larner''♦_(ace) *_1st_Lt._Alfred_W._Lawson *_1st_Lt._Seth_Low *_2nd_Lt._Wellford_MacFadden_Jr_(Killed_in_action) *_1st_Lt._Dudley_H._Manchester♦ *_Capt._Kenneth_A._Marr *_1st_Lt._Martin_F._McQuilkin♦ *_1st_Lt._Charles_I._Merrick *_1st_Lt._Cord_Meyer *_1st_Lt._Charles_H._Monroe♦ *_1st_Lt._Keene_M._Palmer_(Killed_in_action) *_2nd_Lt._Samuel_H._Paris *_Capt._David_M._Peterson.html" ;"title="Soaring Society of America">Soaring_Society_of_America.html" ;"title="ounder Soaring Society of America">ounder Soaring Society of America* Lt. John Frost, DSC, 2 aerial victories * Cpt. Christopher W. Ford, DSC, 3 aerial victories * Lt. Ernest A. Giroux, DSC (KIA) * :File:James Normal Hall.pdf">Cpt. James Norman Hall, DSC, 3 aerial victories * Lt. Warren T. Hobbs, SSC (KIA) * Lt. Livingston G. Irving, DSC, 1 aerial victory * Lt. Eugene B. Jones, SSC (KIA) * Cpt. Richard C. M. Page, DSC, 2 aerial victories * Lt. Percy R. Pyne, DSC, 1 aerial victory * Lt. John I. Rancourt, DSC, 1 aerial victory * Lt. Joseph Waddell, SSC DSC:
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...
; SSC: Citation Star">Silver Star Citation The Citation Star was a Department of War personal valor decoration issued as a ribbon device which was first established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1918 (Bulletin No. 43, War Dept. 1918). When awarded, a silver star was placed o ...
; KIA: killed in action


Officers assigned during hostilities

Former members of Lafayette Flying Corps in ''italics''; former members of Lafayette Escadrille in bold
A ♦ symbol indicates present for duty on 11 November 1918
Pilots * 2nd Lt. William C. Appleton♦ * ''1st Lt. Paul F. Baer'' (prisoner of war, ace) * 1st Lt. Hobey Baker">Hobart A.H. Baker * 1st Lt. Herbert B. Bartholf♦ * ''Capt. Charles J. Biddle'' (ace) * Capt. Ray C. Bridgman * 1st Lt. B. Drumond Cannon * 1st Lt. Lawrence E. Cauffman♦ * 2nd Lt. Loran B. Cockrell♦ * ''Capt. Phelps Collins'' (Killed in flying accident) * 1st Lt. Charles H. Dolan * 1st Lt. William E. Dugan Jr. * 1st Lt. Paul W. Eaton (Prisoner of war) * 1st Lt. Warren E. Eaton♦ * ''1st Lt. Stuart E. Edgar'' (Killed in flying accident) * ''2nd Lt. Clarence H. Faith''♦ * 1st Lt. Christopher W. Ford (Prisoner of war) * 1st Lt. John Frost♦ * 1st Lt. George W. Furlow♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Ernest A. Giroux (Killed in action) * Capt. James Norman Hall">James N. Hall * Capt. Dudley L. Hill * ''1st Lt. Warren T. Hobbs'' (Killed in action) * 1st Lt. Theodore H. Hubbard♦ * 1st Lt. Frank O'D. Hunter♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Livingston Gilson Irving">Livingston G. Irving♦ * ''1st Lt. C. Maury Jones'' * 1st Lt. Eugene B. Jones (Killed in action) * 1st Lt. Henry S. Jones * ''1st Lt. Hugo A. Kenyon''♦ * 1st Lt. John O. Kirtland♦ * 1st Lt. John M. Koontz (Wounded in action) * ''Capt. G. DeFreest Larner''♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Alfred W. Lawson * 1st Lt. Seth Low * 2nd Lt. Wellford MacFadden Jr (Killed in action) * 1st Lt. Dudley H. Manchester♦ * Capt. Kenneth A. Marr * 1st Lt. Martin F. McQuilkin♦ * 1st Lt. Charles I. Merrick * 1st Lt. Cord Meyer * 1st Lt. Charles H. Monroe♦ * 1st Lt. Keene M. Palmer (Killed in action) * 2nd Lt. Samuel H. Paris * Capt. David M. Peterson">David McK. Peterson * ''1st Lt. William Ponder''♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Percy R. Pyne♦ * ''1st Lt. John F. Randall'' * Capt. Robert L. Rockwell♦ * 1st Lt. William T. Rolph * 1st Lt. Louis F. Schultze * Capt. Robert Soubiran♦ (last wartime commanding officer) * 1st Lt. McCrea Stephenson * Capt. Edgar Tobin (ace) * 1st Lt. Van Winkle Todd (Prisoner of war) * ''1st Lt. George E. Turnure'' * 1st Lt. Joseph Waddell * 1st Lt. Doyan Parsons Wardwell♦ * ''1st Lt. Charles H. Willcox'' Headquarters * Maj.
William Thaw II Lieutenant Colonel William Thaw II () was an American combat aviator who served in World War I and became a flying ace. Credited with five confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories, he is believed to be the first American to engage in aerial ...
, Commanding Officer * 1st Lt. Phocion S. Park, Adjutant * 2nd Lt. George A. Orr, Adjutant * 1st Lt. John P. Healy, Adjutant♦ (joined squadron 11 Nov 18) * 1st Lt. Henry V. Bell, Operations Officer♦ * 1st Lt. Dan L. Perkins, Engineering Officer♦ * 1st Lt. Claudius H.M. Roberts, Armament Officer * 2nd Lt. Edward H. Carman, Armament officer♦ * 2nd Lt. William H. Bleeker, Supply Officer * 2nd Lt. Elwood S. Frymire, Supply Officer * 2nd Lt. William B. Carill, Supply Officer * 2nd Lt. Robert L.W. Owens, Supply officer * 1st Lt. Rufus K. Goodenow, Supply Officer♦ * 1st Lt. Sigurd H. Kraft, Medical officer * 1st Lt. Omer O. Gain, Medical Officer * 1st Lt. Carroll D. Evans, Medical officer


See also

*
United States Army Air Service The United States Army Air Service (USAAS)Craven and Cate Vol. 1, p. 9 (also known as the ''"Air Service"'', ''"U.S. Air Service"'' and before its legislative establishment in 1920, the ''"Air Service, United States Army"'') was the aerial war ...
*
Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force The Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force on November 11, 1918, represents its maximum strength in World War I. Units of the Air Service are listed as assigned to the order of battle for that date, which was that of t ...
*
List of American Aero Squadrons This is a partial list of original Air Service, United States Army "Aero Squadrons" before and during World War I. Units formed after 1 January 1919, are not listed. Aero Squadrons were the designation of the first United States Army aviatio ...
*
Lafayette Flying Corps The Lafayette Flying Corps is a name given to the American volunteer pilots who flew in the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) during World War I. It includes the pilots who flew with the bona fide Lafayette Escadrille squadron. Numbers The ...
*
Lafayette Escadrille The La Fayette Escadrille (french: Escadrille de La Fayette) was the name of the French Air Force unit escadrille N 124 during the First World War (1914–1918). This escadrille of the ''Aéronautique Militaire'' was composed largely of Ameri ...


Notes

;Footnotes ;Citations


References


"History of the 103rd Aero Squadron", Gorrell's History of the AEF Air Service

Officers assigned to the 103rd Aero Squadron

"Supplementary history of the 103rd Aero Squadron"
*


External links


Spad XIII C.1 of Capt. Robert Soubiran
{{Lists of flying aces Fighter squadrons of the Air Service, United States Army 0103 Military units and formations established in 1917 Military units and formations disestablished in 1919 1917 establishments in Texas