page_title: Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force
section_title: Second Army Air Service
hierarchical_section_title: Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force / Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) / Second Army Air Service
caption_attribution_description: English: Headquarters Staff, Second Army Air Service, Gengault Aerodrome (Toul), France, November 1918
context_page_description: The Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force on November 11, 1918, represents its maximum strength in World War I. Units of the Air Service are listed as assigned to the order of battle for that date, which was that of the Armistice with Germany. The first air unit arrived in France in September 1917, while the final air unit reaching the front did so on November 9, 1918. Unit operations began in April 1918. At the armistice, 57,508 officers and men served in the Air Service of the AEF, 24,512 in the Zone of Advance, and 32,996 in the Services of Supply. Of its 6,861 officers, 4,088 were on flying status and 219 were qualified observation balloon aviators. 1,724 of those on flying status and approximately 100 of the balloonists served in combat units.
  The First Army Air Service was activated August 26, 1918, with Col. Benjamin Foulois named chief over Col. Billy Mitchell. The Second Army Air Service was activated on October 12 with Col. Frank P.
context_section_description: The Second Army Air Service was established on 14 October 1918 by General Order, 287, GHQ.  Paragraph 170 appointed Colonel Frank P. Lahm as Chief of Air Service, Second Army, thus establishing a separate Air Service organization. Headquarters was established at Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome, Toul, France.
  As a result of the Armistice with Germany, American occupation forces would be sent to the German Rhineland. The Third Army Air Service,  under the command of Brigadier General William Mitchell was organized on 14 November as the Air Service component of Third Army. First and Second Army Air Services were ordered to transfer some of their units at the front to Third Army as part of its organization, along with personnel from their Headquarters staffs along with the required equipment, ranging from office furniture to airplanes. The 5th Pursuit Group was transferred to Third Army on 19 November, along with the 41st, 138th and 638th Aero Squadrons.
  On 15 April 1919, orders were received from Paris that the Second Army Air Service was to demobilize. The 85th, 141st, 168th, 258th, 278th, and 354th Aero Squadrons were transferred to Third Army, with the remainder of its organizations to report to the Services of Supply 1st Air Depot to turn in their equipment.  After being processed at Colombey, personnel were assigned to the commanding general, Services of Supply, and sent to one of several staging depots in France where they awaited transport back to the United States and subsequent return to civilian life.
  HQ Second Army Air Service, 12 October 1918 – 15 April 1919 (Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome) (Toul)
  Colonel Frank P. Lahm, Commander  
  Second Army Observation Wing (Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome) (Toul)
  278th Aero Squadron (Army Observation), 14–21 November 1918
  Second Army Observation Group  25 October-4 November 1918 (Chaumont Hill 402 Aerodrome)
  Major C. Delaney, (attached from French Third Army), Commander
  85th Aero Squadron (Army Observation), 25 October-4 November 1918 (Chaumont-Hill 402 Aerodrome, De Havilland DH.4)
  Escadrilles Sal.28, Spa.47, and Spa.277, Aéronautique Militaire - (Saint-Mihiel Aerodrome) (Salmson 2.A2 and SPAD S.XIII)
  IV Corps Observation Group	14 October-21 November 1918 (see page)
  Major Harry B. Anderson, Commander 
  8th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 14-23 October 1918
  85th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation),   4–21 November 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  88th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 15–21 November 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  135th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation),  14 October-21 November 1918 (De Havilland DH.4)
  168th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation)  14 October 1918-21 November 1918 (De Havilland DH.4)
  258th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation), 10–21 November 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  VI Corps Observation Group	14 October-15 April 1919 (Saizerais Airfield)
  Major Joseph T. McNarney, Commander 
  8th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation),   23 October1918-21 November 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  354th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation)   14 October 1918-15 April 1919 (De Havilland DH.4)
  2d Day Bombardment Group    1 November 1918 – 15 April 1919 (Ourches Aerodrome)
  Major George E. A. Reinberg, Commander 
  100th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment)     1 November 1918-15 April 1919 (De Havilland DH.4)
  163d Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment)      1 November 1918-15 April 1919 (De Havilland DH.4)
  4th Pursuit Group		26 October 1918 – 15 April 1919 (Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome) (Toul)
  Major Charles J. Biddle, Commander 
  17th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 	4 November 1918 - 12 December 1918 (SPAD S.XI)
  25th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 	27 October 1918 - 15 April 1919 (RAF S.E. 5a)
  141st Aero Squadron (Pursuit)	27 October 1918 - 15 April 1919 (SPAD S.XIII)
  148th Aero Squadron (Pursuit)	4 November 1918 - 15 April 1919 (SPAD S.XI)
  5th Pursuit Group      15 November 1918 – 15 April 1919 (Lay-Saint-Remy Aerodrome)
  Captain Dudley L. Hill, Commander 
  41st Aero Squadron (Pursuit),  15 November 1918-15 April 1919 (Sopwith Camel F.1)
  138th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 15 November 1918-15 April 1919 (Sopwith Camel F.1)
  638th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 15 November 1918-15 April 1919 
caption: Headquarters staff, Second Army Air Service, Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome (Toul), France, November 1918
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