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 known by the name of Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. It consisted of 1,120 personnel, of which 65 were officers. The Army was not ready for the deployment of aviation forces to Europe, and it became necessary to prepare after President Woodrow Wilson's declaration of war.
Overview
As part of the buildup of US forces, aviation units were formed into aero squadrons primarily at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, with additional units being formed at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California. Once formed, and prior to their deployment to Europe, Camp Taliaferro, north of Fort Worth, Texas, and several airfields near Toronto, Ontario, Canada were used by the British Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to perform flight training for the new aero squadrons. Camp Hancock, near Augusta, Georgia, was used for training service squadrons of aircraft mechanics as well as flight training.
When ordered to deploy, units departed though Garden City, New York, which was the primary port of embarkment. Units there were loaded onto transport ships for the trans-Atlantic crossing. Upon arrival in Europe, Liverpool, England, and Brest, France, were the primary ports of disembarkation, although other ports were also used. Some aero squadrons arriving in England received additional training from the Royal Flying Corps, and later the Royal Air Force (RAF) once it was established, and were then attached to British squadrons, deploying with them to France. Others received further training and were sent to Winchester, Hampshire, where they awaited their cross-channel transfer to France, using the port of Southampton.
After deployment to France, Air Service Replacement Concentration Barracks in St. Maixent was the primary reception center for new aero squadrons assigned to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). There, units were classified as pursuit, bombardment or as observation units. Once processed, units were sent to one of several Air Instructional Centers (AIC) where they received additional training, then/or to the First Corps Observation Group School on Amanty Aerodrome or to the First Pursuit Organization and Training Center on Villeneuve-les-Vertus Aerodrome.
After assignment, the Air Service's deployed units operated from grass aerodromes, at first using airfields already built by the French "Aéronautique Militaire", then from new aerodromes purposely built for the American forces. The exact location of many of these aerodromes is no longer certain as many archives have since disappeared, and as the facilities were only temporary, most of the traces have long vanished through ploughing.
After the Armistice came into effect in November 1918, the wartime Air Service was demobilized. This process was completed within a year and the National Defense Act of 1920 then established the United States Army Air Service on a permanent basis, with several new units being formed. Later, some of the temporary wartime units were consolidated to retain the lineage and honors of their wartime service with the AEF.
Stations Below is a list of the barracks and aerodromes used by the American Expeditionary Force that were sent to France during World War I. Most of the headquarters and command services used barracks or requisitioned properties not linked with flying grounds, yet some were installed on airfields as in Souilly, Saizerais or in Toul, where the "Gengoult" barracks had been built by the French "Aeronautique Militaire" on the northern edge of the Croix de Metz airfields (misspelt for "Gengault").
American sector
Command and control Headquarters, Air Service, AEF, Chaumont, Champagne-Ardenne First Army Air Service Organized at: La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Île-de-France, 10 August 1918 Moved to: Ligny-en-Barrois, Lorraine, 25 August 1918 Moved to: Souilly, Lorraine, 21 September – 11 November 1918
Second Army Air Service Organized at: Toul, Lorraine, 12 October – 11 November 1918
Third Army Air Service Organized at: Ligny-en-Barrois, Lorraine, 14 November 1918 Moved to: Longuyon, Lorraine, 22 November 1918 Moved to Germany.
I Corps, Air Service, First Army Organized at: Neufchâteau, Lorraine, 10 February 1918 Moved to: La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Île-de-France, 1 July 1918 Moved to: Coincy, Picardy, 10 August 1918 Moved to: Toul, Lorraine, 16 August 1918 Moved to: Saizerais, Lorraine, 2 September 1918 Moved to: Rarécourt, Lorraine, 12 September 1918 Moved to: Chéhéry, Champagne-Ardenne, 2–11 November 1918
III Corps, Air Service, First Army Organized at: Château-Thierry, Picardy, 2 August 1918 Moved to: Goussancourt, Picardy, 1 September 1918 Moved to: Malancourt, Lorraine, 24 October 1918 Moved to: Dun-sur-Meuse, Lorraine, 10–11 November 1918
V Corps, Air Service, First Army Organized at: Luxeuil-les-Bains, Franche-Comté, 7 August 1918 Moved to: Souilly, Lorraine, 7 September 1918 Moved to: Fauconcourt, Lorraine, 20 September 1918 Moved to: Ville-sur-Cousances, Lorraine, 22 September 1918 Moved to: Cheppy, Lorraine, 31 October – 11 November 1918
VI Corps, Air Service, First Army Located at: Saizerais, Lorraine, 23 October – 11 November 1918
Combat aerodromes
Amanty Aerodrome Located NW of Amanty, Meuse French, then American Air Service training and operational airfield I Corps Observation Group School Headquarters, I Corps Observation Group, 2 February-3 May 1918 Headquarters, 1st Day Bombardment Group, 10–25 September 1918 1st Aero Squadron (training), 19 October 1917 – 4 April 1918 91st Aero Squadron (training), 14 December 1917 – 24 May 1918 88th Aero Squadron (training), 1 February – 28 May 1918 12th Aero Squadron (training, then observation), 2 February – 3 May 1918 90th Aero Squadron (training), 19 April – 13 June 1918 99th Aero Squadron (Observation School), 31 May – 1 July 1918 135th Aero Squadron (training), 19–30 July 1918 8th Aero Squadron (training), 31 July – 31 August 1918 50th Aero Squadron (training), 27 July – 4 September 1918 104th Aero Squadron (training), 1–4 August 1918 9th Aero Squadron (Night Army Observation) 28 August – 21 September 1918 96th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment), 18 May – 23 September 1918 20th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment), 7–23 September 1918 11th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment), 6–24 September 1918 166th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment), 21–25 September 1918
Autreville Aerodrome Located SSW of Autreville, Vosges RAF operational, then American Air Service training and operational airfield 168th Aero Squadron (training) 2 Sept 1918 - 5 Oct 1918 186th Aero Squadron (training), 18 Sept 1918 – 29 Oct 1918 354th Aero Squadron (training, then Corps Observation), 30 Sept 1918 – 25 Oct 1918 278th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 1 Oct 1918 – 10 Nov 1918
Badonvilliers Aerodrome Unknown exact location, Badonvilliers, Meurthe-et-Moselle Built by 477th Aero Sqn (Construct.) 1–22 August 1918 Apparently never used
Belrain Aerodrome Located SSW of Belrain, Meuse French, then American Air Service airfield Headquarters, 2d Pursuit Group, 23 September – 11 December 1918 13th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 23 September – 6 November 1918 49th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 23 September – 6 November 1918 139th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 24 September – 7 November 1918 22d Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 22 September – 7 November 1918 104th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 30 November 1918 – 14 January 1919 99th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 31 November – 13 December 1918 90th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 15 – 18 January 1918
Bethelainville Aerodrome Located WNW of Béthelainville, Meuse French and American Air Service airfield Headquarters, III Corps Observation Group, 29 October – 11 November 1918 90th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 19 October – 15 January 1919 88th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 4–29 November 1918
Bicqueley Aerodrome Undetermined location near Bicqueley, Meurthe-et-Moselle French and American Air Service operational airfield 50th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 8–24 September 1918
Bonne Maison Aerodrome Located ESE of Fismes, Marne French 6th Army Air Service airfield from January 1917 (previously 5th Army) 103d Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 10 April – 2 May 1918
Chailly-en-Brie Aerodrome Located E of Chailly-en-Brie, Seine et Marne French and American Air Service airfield Headquarters, I Corps Observation Group, 12–22 August 1918 1st Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 13–22 August 1918 12th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 12–22 August 1918
Chaumont-Hill 402 Located ESE of Chaumont, Haute-Marne Headquarters, Second Army Observation Group, 25 Oct 1918 - 4 Nov 1918 Headquarters, 1st Pursuit Wing, 24 Sept 1918 – 11 Nov 1918 Air Service HQ and operational airfield 91st Aero Squadron (ground training) 15 Nov 1917 – 14 Dec 1917 12th Aero Squadron (ground training) 16 Jan 1918 – 2 Feb 1918 85th Aero Squadron (Observation, Second Army), 30 Sept 1918 – 4 Nov 1918 99th Aero Squadron (General Duties) 13 Dec 1918 – 19 Feb 1919
Coincy Aerodrome Located W of Coincy, Aisne French and American Air Service airfield 94th Aero Squadron (Pursuit, advanced airfield) August 1918 Headquarters, I Corps Observation Group, 10–12 August 1918 1st Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 10–13 August 1918 12th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 10–12 August 1918
Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome (Toul) Located NE of Toul, Meurthe et Moselle French and American Air Service airfield Headquarters, 1st Pursuit Wing, 6 July 1918 – c. 24 September 1918 Headquarters, 1st Pursuit Group, 5 May 1918 – 28 June 1918 Headquarters, 2d Pursuit Group, 29 June 1918 – 23 September 1918 Headquarters, 4th Pursuit Group, 26 October 1918 – 15 April 1919 Headquarters, I Corps Observation Group, 22 August 1918 – 19 September 1918 1st Pursuit Organization and Training Center, then 1st Pursuit Group from 5 May (First Army) 94th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 7 April 1918 – 29 June 1918 95th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 4 May 1918 – 28 June 1918 27th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 1 – 26 June 1918 147th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 1 – 28 June 1918 2nd Pursuit Group (First Army, part of the 1st Pursuit Wing from 6 July) 13th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 28 June 1918 – 23 September 1918 139th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 30 June 1918 – 24 September 1918 103d Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 4 July 1918 – 7 August 1918 49th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 2 August 1918 – 23 September 1918 22d Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 16 August 1918 – 22 September 1918 28th Aero Squadron (3rd Pursuit Group, First Army) 15–16 July 1918 (transfer from Orly to Vaucouleurs). I Corps Observation Group (First Army) 1st Aero Squadron (Observ.), 22 August 1918 – 21 September 1918 12th Aero Squadron (Observ.), 22 August 1918 – 20 September 1918 IV Corps Observation Group (First Army, then Second Army from 14 October - HQ in Remicourt then Julvécourt) 8th Aero Squadron (Observ.), 29 September 1918 – 23 October 1918 135th Aero Squadron (Observ.), 30 Sept 1918 – 21 November 1918 168th Aero Squadron (Observ.), 5 October 1918 – 21 November 1918 85th Aero Squadron (Observ.), 10–24 November 1918 4th Pursuit Group 822nd Aero Squadron, then 6th Air Park Oct 1918 - April 1919 141st Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 19 October 1918 – 19 April 1919 25th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 24 October 1918 – 15 April 1919 17th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 4 November 1918 – 12 December 1918 148th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 4 November 1918 – 11 December 1918 278th Aero Squadron (VII Corps Obs. Group/First Army, 14 Nov to Second Army) 14 November 1918 - 15 April 1919
Delouze Aerodrome Located NE of Deouze, Meuse American Air Service airfield 166th Aero Squadron (Day Bomb.), 26 August – 1 September 1918; 7–12 September 1918