Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-07-25
History of the 484th Aero Squadron,
A. F.. F.

Fifth Air Depot. The trip to Long
cauX was made both by truck
train, and rail. The detachment
who travelled by rail received its
first baptism of fire at Chalons, for
thorough and complete exhibition
of German air raid while the
Squadron cars were side-tracked
there.
Work on the LongeauX Airdromc
started with a will, the Squadron
working in three eight-hour shifts.
The night shift was the most well
come because it afforded ringside
seats at the fireworks exhibition
The boys in the trenches were furn-
ishing nightly. Not to be outdone
in exhibitions, the German flyers
made nightly trip TO bomb Ligny
and Barbecue, short distance
away. The Squadron was en-
camped on the very top of the high
est hill in very hilly region.
There were thirty tents all in row
and as white as snow-a wonder
full target from the air. Shelter
trenches were dug between the
tents and a Safety First" drill
practiccd, but these precautions
proved TO be unnecessary. Night
after night the internationally loud
soft humming Of the Bochc bomb
crS could be heard overhead and
the tut-tut-tut-iut of their machine
guns filled more than one heart
with fear. Despite the danger, it
was difficult to refrain from watch
ing the performance, for the oscil-
latinS scarchlightS, with their long
fingers Of blush white light and
the bursting anti-aircrafl shrapncl
filled the air with pyrotcchnic.
display never cqualcd by any
Fourth of July performance at
home.
Humor was added to the situa-
ton by the Moroccan laborcrs who
had come with The Squadron from
Ninets. UO9th and 10th Labors
Cos, in command of Lieut.. Oscar
j. HcrberD. These picturesque
Oriental figures added a wierd
touch to the scene, with their bril-
liant red turbans and their bronze
skins. They worked in their bare
feet, regardless of cold. 1t was no
uncommon scene TO see them bund-
led up in scarfs and heavy over
coats but with feet bare. They
were steady workers but never
could have been accused of being
speedy, that is, not until the first
night they heard the Boche over
head, when the entire Moroccan
personnel beat ii for the surround
ing fields with a sprint that would
have made "Tcd Meridith" cnvi-
GUS. Nor could they be coaxed
back to their tents. Thereafter
nightfalI found them parading TO
selected spots in the fields and
woods with their blankets. During
the earlier evening hours they
amused themselves as well as the
Squadron with their wicrd chants
and dances.
AT Vincls, Sergeant Firkt Glass
Edward Nelson was appointed
Transportation Sergeant to assist
Lieut.. Suckcrt, who had discover
ed thai The greatest problem in
Keeping the trucks and cars going
was in replacing the broken parts
and worn tires. Unfortunately
there were but few spare parts in
France and new tires were as
scarce as the provcrbial hens
teeth. Ii was soon learned. how
ever, that if Nelson was sent after
that particular thing hap
pcncd to be in that part of France,
he drought home the bacon" Be-
cause explanations might have
been embarrassing, Nelson was
never asked how he acquired what
he was sent for. However. if he
ever chose TO write an autobiogra-
ply. his adventures might have
made the efforts of that gentleman
burglar "Raf1les" look like those of
an amateur shop-liftcr.
Early i'm August rumors were
current regarding the formation Of
the First Army. On August Goth,
1913, the 4S4th received an order
assigning ii to The First American
Field Army and ordering it TO Lay
st. Remy, slightly west OF Toul AS
is was expected that all Squadron
work from then on would require
that it travel with only mobile
most Of the bulky sup
plies and materials were left be-
hind. With headquarters at Lay
81. Rcmy, The Squadron hurricdly
began work on the flying fields at
foul and Lay st. Rcmy, erecting
hangers and barracks. Almost inn