Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-08-01


T. q. McNarney, Commanding.
The Squadron photograph was TAX
en- by Group Photographer, Lieut..
Bernard G.. Granville, of Ziegfield
Follies fame, each member of the
A84th being presented with two cop
les. The work of the Squadron
was often facilitated by trucks and
other equipment loaned by the
Sixth Corps Group and, indeed,
many were the kindnesses for
which the 484th is indebted.
Shortly after this, attachments
were sent to work on the Toul field
where additional hangers were
erected, and to newly projected
field at Manonville, southeast of
Thiacourt, at which place nothing
was done but to roll the field in
case it should be decided to use it
as a permanent location. One week
later. an order came from Army
Headquarters to the effect that work
was to begin with all possible
speed, and Manonvillc at once be-
came a beehive of activity. With
in the short period of six days,
sixty truck Cads of material were
hauled to The location from points
from thirty to sixty kilomctcrs
away, and the Squadron erected sin
! BcSSasoneauN llangarS, nine six by
thirty meier barracks, one SIX by
twenty meter harrack, eight Nis,cn
hutS and laNcd four hundred and
live meters Of industrial railroad
track.
During the second day at Manon-
vile it was learned that Il Service
! Squadron was expected before
nightfall. Between ten in the morn
ing and four in the afternoon two
Adrian barracks were completely
erected, ready for occupancy. \
! BcsSoncauX Hangar was also erect
ed in the same period, five hours,
thus setting Il new Squadron rec
ord. and, SO far as known, new
a. T.. +. record for the erection of
hangers and barracks.
Work continued without a lct-up,
and when. on the morning of No
vcmbcr nth, it was heard that the
Armistice had been signed and hos
tilities would soon cease, the rum
or was given but little crcdencc
Never before had so heavy a bar
rage been poured over the lines
Never before had the roar of the
guns been so deafening. For sever
al days the men had seen long lines
of plodding doughboys and heard
the rattle OF ammunition wagons
going forward. 1t seemed now that
every ounce of strength, every grain
OF powder was being hurled against
the rctrcating enemy to seal for
once and for all the recently sign
ed armisiice.
Suddenly it ceased! Ears accus-
toned TO the inccSSant booming of
nearby cannon began TO buzz with
The unaccustOmcd silence. 1t was
eleven O'Clock. The sun burst forth
from a gray sky. bathing the drab.
war torn countryside with warm
sunshine.
The war was over! Next day the
formal order came to cease all con-
Strucilon work and ii was this or
der rather than the cessation of hos
tIlllIcS that was chccrcd to the echo
by the men of the 1Slth.
Another rcSOunding cheer rent
The atmosphere on November The
l9th, when orders arrived for NOV
ing Camp to The First Air Depot,
at Colombcy-lcs-Bcllcs, there to
drop all equipment and prepare
''r cmbarkation to the United
States.
lmmeuiu.c ely the necessary work
to wind up the construction work
on Nanonvillc and Saizcras Air
dromes was attcnde.. to. AT four
A. NJ. on the morning of November
22nd, the Squadron struck camp
at Saizerais, moving all the equip
ment to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, dis
lance of twenty-five miles. Night
fall found the Squadron i'm its own
tents at the new station. The work
of turning in all supplies and equip
mcnt unnecessary for travel was
taken up at once and on November
-, 1918, the Commanding Officer
reported TO General Headquarters
that the Squadron was ready for
cmbarkation to the United States.
Ready for Embarkation, But
without one Of the Squadron's most
able men, for Master Electrician
81 Schablitzkc had, on October
passed. with flying colors, The
examination for admission TO the
Pilots Training Course. When il
was learned that the Squadron was
homc-ward bound, effort was made