I Corps Observation Group

1st Corps Observation Group
1st Aero Squadron, Julvecourt Aerodrome, France, November 1918
Active	21 April 1918-15 April 1919
Country	United States
Branch	Air Service, United States Army
Type	Group
Role	Command and Control
Part of	American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Engagements	World War I Champagne-Marne Defensive Campaign Aisne-Marne Offensive Campaign St. Mihel Offensive Campaign Meuse-Argonne Offensive Campaign
Insignia
Identification symbol	1st Aero Squadron 12th Aero Squadron 50th Aero Squadron

The I Corps Observation Group 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. It was demobilized in France after the 1918 Armistice with Germany on 15 April 1919.

There is no modern United States Air Force or Air National Guard 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

Organized in April 1918 as 1st Corps Observation Group. The assigned 1st Aero Squadron was the first American air unit to ever see action in France, being the same unit which served under General John J. Pershing as part of the Pancho Villa Expedition while chasing Pancho Villa into Mexico in 1916.

Assigned to the I Corps, United States Army Air Service, First United States Army. Commenced active operations over the front occupied by the 26th Division, United States Army, between Flirey and Apremont on that portion of the front known as the Toul sector.

The pilots of these squadrons, with one or two exceptions, had never before flown in combat. The group and squadron commanders were in every case men of long experience in training work but had never flown to an appreciable extent under war conditions.

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 our own artillery fire. In addition, it 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.

Lineage

Organized in France as: I Corps Observation Group, 21 April 1918

Demobilized in France on 15 April 1919

Assignments

Headquarters Air Service, I Corps, First Army, 21 April 1918-15 April 1919

Components

1st Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 6 April– 18 November 1918
12th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 30 April 1918-20 November 1918
50th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 14 August 1918-2 April 1919
Photographic Section No. 1, Apr–Nov 1918
N.211 Escadrille, Aéronautique Militaire (Attached), Apr–Nov 1918

Stations

Ourches Aerodrome, France, 21 April 1918
Saints Aerodrome, France, 29 June 1918
Francheville Aerodrome, 6 July 1918
Moras Ferme (near La Ferté-sous-Jouarre) France, 30 July 1918
May-en-Multien Aerodrome, France, 5 August 1918

Coincy Aerodrome, France, 10 August 1918
Chailly-en-Brie Aerodrome, France, 12 August 1918
Gengault Aerodrome (Toul), France, 22 August 1918
Remicourt Aerodrome, France, 20 September 1918
Julvecourt Aerodrome, France, 5 November 1918-15 April 1919

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Series "D", Volume 2, List of Air Service Units Assigned to Tactical Operations and Table Showing Change of Stations for Air Service Units assigned to Armies before 11 November 1918. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
usaworldwar1.com – 1st Observation Group
The American Army in the World War, A Divisional Record Of The American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, G Waldo Browne, Rosencrans W. Pillsbury, 1921, Overseas Book Co, Manchester, New Hampshire.