213th Aero Squadron

213th Aero Squadron

Lt. Charles Grey (Center) and pilots of the 213th Aero Squadron, and a SPAD XIII, Foucaucourt Aerodrome, France, November 1918
Active 1 December 1917 – 30 June 1919
Country  United States
Branch   Air Service, United States Army
Type Squadron
Role Pursuit
Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Fuselage Code "Indian Head"
Engagements
World War I
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Capt. John A. Hambleton[1]
Insignia
213th Aero Squadron Emblem
Aircraft flown
Fighter SPAD VII, 1918
SPAD XIII, 1918[1]
Service record
Operations

3d Pursuit Group
Western Front, France: 14 August-11 November 1918[2]

  • Sorties: 1,232
  • Combat missions: 248
  • Enemy combats: 38
  • Killed: 3
  • Wounded: 2
  • Missing: 7
  • Aircraft lost: 15 [1]
Victories
  • Enemy Aircraft shot down: 15[3]
  • Enemy Balloons shot down: 1[3]
  • Total Enemy Aircraft Destroyed: 16[3]

Air Aces: 1[4]

The 213th 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 Day Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron as part of the 3d Pursuit Group, First United States Army. Its mission was to engage and clear enemy aircraft from the skies and provide escort to reconnaissance and bombardment squadrons over enemy territory. It also attacked enemy observation balloons, and perform close air support and tactical bombing attacks of enemy forces along the front lines.[6] After the 1918 Armistice with Germany, the squadron returned to the United States in June 1919 and was demobilized.[1][7]

The squadron was never reactivated and there is no current United States Air Force or Air National Guard successor unit.

History

Origins

The 213th Aero Squadron was formed from a cadres of men from the 15th, 23d, and 100th Aero Squadrons that were organized at Kelly Field, Texas on 1 December 1917. The men, already having been indoctrinated into basic soldiering, were transferred to the Aviation Concentration Center, Garden City, Long Island, on 7 January 1918 for overseas duty. boarded the HMS Tuscania on 24 January 1918, bound for duty in Europe.[1]

HMS Tuscania sinking

After an initially unremarkable voyage, On the morning of 5 February the Tuscania turned south for the North Channel en route to Liverpool. Most of those aboard, in sight of the Irish coast to starboard and the Scottish coast to port, surely believed the worst part of their journey was behind them. Spotted by German submarine UB-77 earlier in the day, however, their convoy was stalked until early evening and the cover of darkness. Then, at about 6:40 pm, submarine captain Lt. Cdr. Wilhelm Meyer ordered two torpedoes fired at the Tuscania. The second of these struck home, sending the ship – within about four hours – to the bottom of the Channel.[8]

According to the squadron history, "nothing can be gained by describing, or attempting to describe, the horror of it all. Suffice to say that as a result of Hunnish Hate, five members of the squadron were buried on the Island of Islay." [1]

Training

After being rescued, the squadron, less clothing and its equipment was concentrated at a rest camp at Winchester, England. At Winchester, the squadron was assigned to the Royal Flying Corps for training at RFC Ayre, Scotland, on 20 February. There, the men were fully equipped and its pilots began training at the No.1 School, Aerial Fighting. The men were also trained, along with British mechanics on Bristol fighters, SE-5s, Sopwith Camels, Dolphins, Bristol Scouts and Avros. On 15 June, the squadron, now trained was ordered to Winchester where a final inspection was made before being ordered on 28 June to proceed to France.[1]

After a cross-channel trip to Le Havre, the 213th Aero Squadron arrived at the 3d Air Instruction Center, Issoudun Aerodrome, on 23 July. However its stay at Issodun was brief, as it was classified as a Pursuit squadron and ordered to proceed directly into combat being assigned to the 3d Pursuit Group at Vaucouleurs Aerodrome in the Zone of Advance (Western Front).[1]

Combat on the Western Front

Capt John Hambleton next to his SPAD XIII, Foucaucourt Aerodrome, France. Lt Lee's aircraft coded "6" serial number S. 7731 in the background.
Lt Charles G. Grey next to his Spad XIII

Arriving at Vaucouleurs on 26 July, the squadron was initially assigned SPAD VII aircraft, being flown down from the Air Service Acceptance Park No. 1 at Orly Field, near Paris. On 14 August 1918, the first patrol was carried out by Lieutenants Ford, Weirick and Matheson. They flew a patrol from Vaucouleurs to Nomey, Pont a Mosson, Xivry, Vigreulles and then returned to Vaucouleurs. The next day an escort patrol was sent out to accompany a flight of 96th Squadron Breguet bombers, however the aircraft failed to appear and the squadron's planes returned. Later that day, another escort mission for the 91st Squadron Salmson reconnaissance planes were flown over the route Pagny-Lake Lachausse-Fresnes-Vegnuille.[1]

The first squadron member to engage an enemy aircraft happened on 21 July when Lieutenant Ford attacked a biplane enemy plane around Beaumont. The enemy plane began to spin in a steep dive, and was seen to hit the ground, but no ground infantry was in the area to confirm the combat. During the seventeen days of August, the squadron carried out 26 patrols, 192 sorties and had three combat aerial victories, all of which were unconfirmed.[1]

On 12 September, a low strafing mission with all squadron pilots was carried out. Lt. Gray leading a patrol over enemy lines on the 15th shot an enemy balloon down in flames, and Lieutenant Hambleton shooting down an enemy aircraft near Chambley. A special mission was carried on September 29 to machine-gun roads and enemy concentrations in the vicinity of Geses. The squadron caused considerable confusion with the enemy infantry.[1]

As the First Army began taking the offensive at St. Mihiel and also in the Meuse-Argonne offensives, the 213th was busy in the air. With the Meuse-Argonne offensive starting on 26 September, more bomber escort missions were undertaken though the end of the month. Combat missions were undertaken throughout October supporting the offensive with bombing and escort missions over enemy territory in support of First Army.[1]

On 26 September First Army began its great offensive near Verdun, and in response the German Air Service responded, very much reinforced. The squadron saw enemy aircraft patrolling and escorting reconnaissance planes in the region of Etain, and the patrol had a narrow escape. During the offensive, squadron pilots inflicted heavy losses upon enemy aircraft and balloons. As its pilots gained domination of the air, their responsibilities were expanded to include protection of ground forces, strafing of enemy troops and bombing of targets that could be observed within enemy lines.[1]

Men and aircraft of the 213th Aero Squadron, Foucaucourt Aerodrome, France, November 1918.

On 1 October a patrol of six squadron planes saw enemy biplanes in the vicinity of Bantheville, however only Lt. Cone was able to shoot one down in the region of Brieulles. The squadron daily engaged in combats while escorting bomber and observation planes. Because of bad weather, very few patrols were made between 10–18 October, the clouds hung very low, the mist was thick and at times there was a great deal of drizzly rain. However, on the 18th the squadron was able to fly a protection mission for the 1st Day Bombardment Group.[1]

The squadron moved on 5 November to Foucaucourt Aerodrome, however weather conditions limited its operations to below the clouds and to attacks on enemy infantry forces on the ground. These low-level attacks attacked enemy infantry forces along the sides of the roads east of the Meuse. A rumor of an armistice was constantly being discussed and it was felt that these were the last chances to speed up the agreement by attacking the enemy as much as possible.[1]

The squadron was told that the war would be over on 10 November, and that all offensive patrols would cease at 11:00am the next day. The morning of the 11th saw bad weather and all combat ended that day.[1]

Demobilization

The AEF was very slow in returning its forces to the United States. The Squadron remained at Foucaucourt Airdrome until 29 January 1919 when it was ordered to report to the 1st Air Depot, Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome to turn in all of its supplies and equipment and was relieved from duty with the AEF. 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.[9]

Personnel at Colombey were subsequently assigned to the Commanding General, Services of Supply and ordered to report to the staging camp at Le Mans France. There, personnel awaited scheduling to report to one of the Base Ports in France for transport to the United States. It was moved to its port of embarkation, Brest on 22 May 1919.[9]

The 213th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), returned to New York City on 10 June, its personnel were demobilized and returned to civilian life, the squadron inactivated at Hazelhurst Field, Long Island, on 30 June 1919.

Lineage

Re-designated, 213th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 23 July 1918
Demobilized on 30 June 1919.[1]

Assignments

  • Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 1 December 1917
  • Aviation Concentration Center, 7 January 1918
  • Air Service Headquarters, AEF, British Isles
Attached to: Royal Flying Corps for training, 20 February-28 June 1918
  • 3d Air Instruction Center, 23 July 1918
  • 3d Pursuit Group, 26 July 1918
  • 1st Air Depot, 29 January 1919
  • Commanding General, Services of Supply, February–May 1919
  • Eastern Department, 10–30 June 1919[1]

Stations

Overseas transport: RMS Tuscania, 24 January – 5 February 1918 (Ship torpedoed)
  • Unit re-assembled at Winchester, England, February 1918
  • RFC Ayre, Scotland, 20 February 1918
  • Winchester, England, 15 June 1918

Combat sectors and campaigns

Streamer Sector/Campaign Dates Notes
Toul Sector 27 July – 11 September 1918 [10]
St. Mihiel Offensive Campaign 12–16 September 1918 [10]
Meuse-Argonne Offensive Campaign 26 September – 11 November 1918 [10]

Notable personnel

  • Lt. Richard T. Aldworth (MIA)[1][11]
  • Lt. Clarence N. Bellows (KIA)[1]
  • Cpt. Charles G. Grey, DSC, air ace
  • Lt. Patrick H. Mell, DSC, SSC, 2 aerial victories
  • Lt. John A. Hambleton, SSC
  • Lt. David E. McClure (KIA)[1]
  • Lt. John W. Odgen (MIA)[1]
  • Lt. Richard Phelan (MIA)[1] {died OCt 31, 1918. ABMC Record}
  • Lt. Frank W. Sidler (MIA)[1] {died Sept 13,1918. ABMC Record}
  • Lt. Alvin M. Treadwell (MIA)[1][12]
  • Lt. Arthur W. Weirich (MIA)[1]

DSC: Distinguished Service Cross; SSC: Silver Star Citation; KIA: Killed in Action; MIA: Missing in Action[13]

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Series "E", Volume 2, History of the 9th and 10th Aero Squadrons. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  2. ↑ Series "H", Section "O", Volume 29, Weekly Statistical Reports of Air Service Activities, October 1918-May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  3. 1 2 3 Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, Series M, Volume 38, Compilation of Confirmed Victories and Losses of the AEF Air Service as of May 26, 1919
  4. ↑ 27th Aero Squadron@www.theaerodrome.com
  5. ↑ 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, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
  6. ↑ Maurer, Maurer (1978), The US Air Service in World War I, The Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF Washington
  7. ↑ Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the First World War, Volume 3, Part 3, Center of Military History, United States Army, 1949 (1988 Reprint)
  8. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "SS Tuscania (1914)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Jun. 2013.
  9. 1 2 Series "D", Weekly Statistical Reports of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  10. 1 2 3 United States War Department (1920), Battle Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium and Italy, 1917–1919, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1920
  11. ↑ Find a grave reports he died Sept 18, 1943 while a Colonel in the US Army Air Corps
  12. ↑ Find a grave reports Alvin HILL Treadwill died November 16, 1918
  13. ↑ Military Times Hall of Valor Search, 213th Aero Squadron
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