The V Corps Observation Group was an

Air Service, United States Army 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 warf ...

unit that fought on the Western Front 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 ...

as part of the Air Service,

First United States Army First Army is the oldest and longest-established field army of the United States Army. It served as a theater army, having seen service in both World War I and World War II, and supplied the US army with soldiers and equipment during the Korea ...

. It was demobilized in France on 15 February 1919. There is no modern

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 ...

unit that shares its lineage and history.

Mission

The mission of the group was primarily to keep the friendly command informed of the general situation within the enemy lines by means of visual and photographic reconnaissances. It was called upon to effect, whenever necessary, the adjustment of U.S. Army artillery fire. In addition, it was expected that the group would serve to complete the schooling of pilots and observers and render them more competent to undertake intensive operations elsewhere on a larger and more complete scale.

History

Created on 1 August 1918, it was organized at

Luxeuil-les-Bains Aerodrome Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur (french: Base aérienne 116 Luxeuil Saint-Sauveur or BA 116) is a medium size French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) base located near Luxeuil-les-Bains in the Franche-Comté region of France. It has t ...

, France with the 99th and

104th Aero Squadron The 104th Aero Squadron was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I. The squadron was assigned as a Corps Observation Squadron, performing short-range, tactical reconnaissance over the V Corp ...

s on 7 August. At the time of organization, the 99th was conducting a liaison school with infantry units at which place the 104th Squadron reported, but due to a lack of equipment and officer personnel, no combat operations took place.Series "E", Volume 14, History of the 5th Corps Observation Group. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C. On 7 September the group moved to

Souilly Aerodrome Souilly Aerodrome was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located Northeast of Souilly, in the Meuse department in north-eastern France. Overview With the Battle of Verdun raging on in the early part of 1917, a cluster of new a ...

in preparation for the

St. Mihiel Offensive The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against ...

. At Souilly, the

88th Aero Squadron The 88th Aero Squadron was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I. The squadron was assigned as a Corps Observation Squadron, performing short-range, tactical reconnaissance over the III Cor ...

was assigned on 15 September. Again moved to

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 ...

on 20 September in preparation for the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In addition, the 1st Air Park was assigned to the Group for repair work and transportation support. During the period 20 October – 1 November, the weather conditions were very poor. Observation patrols over the enemy lines were very difficult due to the poor visibility, and direct observation yielded very little useful information. Clearing weather on 2 November, extensive observation flights weer made of enemy positions, artillery locations, and enemy defensive organization in general.

Lineage

* Organized in France as: V Corps Observation Group, 7 August 1918 : Demobilized in France on 15 February 1919

Assignments

First Army Air Service The First Army Air Service was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I as part of the Air Service, First United States Army. The First Army Air Service was the largest and most diverse Air Ser ...

, 1 September 1918 – 15 February 1919

Components

(Corps Observation), 12–17 September 1918 (Attached) *

99th Aero Squadron The 99th Aero Squadron was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I. The squadron was assigned as a Corps Observation Squadron, performing short-range, tactical reconnaissance over the V Corps ...

(Corps Observation), 7 August 1918 – 15 February 1919 *

(Corps Observation), 4 August 1918 - 19 December 1918 * Escadrilles BR 219 & BR 229 Escadrille,To be confirmed, as the BR 229 most likely stayed in the Champagne region in the closing months of the war, far from the V Corps' combat area; it might be a confusion with BR 219

Aéronautique Militaire The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Arm ...

(Attached)

Stations

, France, 7 August 1918 *

, France, 7 September 1918 *

, France, 20 September 1918 *

Parois Airdrome Parois Airdrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located near the commune of Aubréville, in the Lorraine region in northeastern France. Overview The airfield was built during the early fall of 1918 as a forward operati ...

, France, 4–15 February 1919

References

{{Wwi-air 0005 Reconnaissance units and formations of the United States Army Groups of the Air Service, United States Army in World War I Military units and formations disestablished in 1919