United States Air Service, USN & USMC Aviation in World War I

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World War I American Aviation/United States Air Service Summary

World War I marked America's first aerial combat operations. The United States Air Service, the United States Naval Aviation and United States Marine Aviation fought in France, England, Italy, Ireland, Germany and elsewhere during World War I. American World War I aviators included Eddie Rickenbacker, Raoul Lufbery, Quentin Roosevelt, Frank Luke, Eugene Bullard, David Ingalls, Carl Spaatz, Everett Cook, Billy Mitchell and many others.

By the time World War I ended, the forty-five United States Air Service fighter, bomber and observation squadrons had participated in seven campaigns, claimed 781 planes and 73 balloons downed. They produced 71 aces of whom five had more than 10 victories each. They dropped 140 tons of bombs in 150 bombing runs. And in exchange, they lost 289 airplanes, 48 balloons and 237 of their own men either killed or missing in action.

United States Naval Avation and United States Marine Aviation also started combat operations during World War I. See US Naval Aviation, United States Navy ace David Ingalls and US Marine Aviation for more information.

Learn more: 1st Observation Group, 1st Pursuit Group, 1st Bombardment Group, 2nd Pursuit Group, 3rd Pursuit Group, 4th Pursuit Group, 5th Pursuit Group and 3rd Air Park. See the really cool USAS Bases Google Map we've made just for you.

File under:

1st Observation Group - 1st aero squadron, 12th aero squadron, 50th aero squadron
1st Pursuit Group - 27th aero squadron, 94th aero squadron, 95th aero squadron, 147th aero squadron, 185th aero squadron
1st Bombardment Group - 96th aero squadron, 11th aero squadron, 20th aero squadron, 166th aero squadron
2nd Pursuit Group - 13th aero squadron, 22nd aero squadron, 49th aero squadron, 139th aero squadron
3rd Pursuit Group - 28th aero squadron, 93rd aero squadron, 103rd aero squadron, 213th aero squadron
4th Pursuit Group - 17th aero squadron, 25th aero squadron, 148th aero squadron, 141st aero squadron
5th Pursuit Group - 41st Aero Squadron, 138th Aero Squadron, 638th Aero Squadron
3rd Air Park - 255th Aero Squadron