First Army Air Service The IV Corps Observation Group was formally organized on 1 July 1918 by the First Army Air Service at
Ourches Aerodrome, France, although its first personnel were organized on 27 June. It was formed for the purpose of operations in the forthcoming American offensives of First Army. Its units consisted of a Headquarters Squadron, the
135th Aero Squadron, arriving at Ourches on 30 July. A second squadron, the
8th Aero Squadron, was assigned to the group on 31 August. Both squadrons were assigned to the Group from the 1st Observation Group School at
Amanty Aerodrome. The first efforts of the Group were directed towards organization and preparation for combat operations in the coming
St. Mihiel Offensive. To this end, the 8th and 135th were designated as Corps Observation Squadrons whose duty it would be to make artillery adjustments, to perform photographic missions of the Corps front, and to make long distance reconnaissances together with Divisional work. On 14 October 1918, the Group was relieved from First Army and transferred to the newly organized
Second Army Air Service. This was to give Second Army some experienced units in preparation for the upcoming
Meuse-Argonne offensive. Headquarters personnel were subsequently assigned to the Commanding General, Services of Supply and ordered to report to one of several staging camps in France. There, personnel awaited scheduling to report to one of the Base Ports in France for transport to the United States and subsequent demobilization and return to civilian life.
Lineage • Organized in France as:
IV Corps Observation Group, 1 July 1918 : Demobilized in France on 12 May 1919
Assignments • First Army Air Service, 1 July 1918 •
Second Army Air Service, 14 October 1918 •
Third Army Air Service, 21 November 1918 – 12 May 1919
Components ;; First Army Air Service •
135th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 30 July – 14 October 1918 •
24th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 6–22 August 1918 •
8th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 31 July – 14 October 1918 •
168th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 12–14 October 1918 ;; Second Army Air Service •
135th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 14 October – 21 November 1918 •
8th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 14–23 October 1918 •
168th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 14 October 1918 – 21 November 1918 •
85th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 4–21 November 1918 •
258th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 10–21 November 1918 •
88th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 15–21 November 1918 ;; Third Army Air Service •
12th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 21 November 1918 – 15 April 1919 •
88th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 21 November 1918 – c. 6 December 1918 •
85th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 15 April 1919 – 12 May 1919 •
278th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 15 April 1919 – 12 May 1919 •
354th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 15 April 1919 – 12 May 1919
Stations •
Ourches Aerodrome, France, 1 July 1918 •
Ménil-la-Tour, France, 11 September 1918 •
Bocq, Belgium, 10 October 1918 •
Éply, France, 14 October 1918 •
Mercy-le-Haut, France, 21 November 1918 • Euren, Germany, 4 December 1918 • Coblenz Aerodrome, Fort Kaiser Alexander, Germany, 27 December 1918 • Sinzig Aerodrome, Germany, 15 April – 12 May 1919 ==See also==