page_title: Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force
section_title: First Army Air Service
hierarchical_section_title: Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force / Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) / First Army Air Service
caption_attribution_description: English: 11th Aero Squadron posing with its Dayton-Wright DH-4s (Note "Mr Jiggs" on each fuselage), Maulan Airdrome, 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 First Army Air Service was the largest and most diverse Air Service combat organization of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and most American Air Service combat units were assigned to it when assigned to the front.  The First Army Air Service dates to the first American Air Service personnel arriving in France.   On 15 January 1918, Colonel William Mitchell was appointed Chief of the Air Service, I Corps, First Army.  At this time, the I Corps was being formed for the purpose of administratively handling all of the American troops then on the Western Front.  Headquarters was located at Neufchâteau, France.   When the first American Aero Squadrons arrived at the front in April 1918, they were assigned to the quiet Toul Sector. At this time, the American Air Service on the front consisted of only a few Aero Squadrons of the 1st Pursuit Group.
  Created on 10 August at La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, the unit was formally organized on next 26 August at Ligny-en-Barrois, France. It consisted of the French Aerial Division, which consisted of a large number of pursuit and day bombardment squadrons. In addition, there was one other French pursuit group and three American pursuit groups-one American day-bombardment group-the 1st Army observation, and one French Army artillery group for the adjustment of long-range artillery fire. Eight night-bombardment squadrons of the British Royal Air Force. were to cooperate with the First Army Air Service whenever the tactical situation made such action expedient.  The establishment of the First Army Air Service marked the first concentration of American air forces under its own commander.
  On 11 November 1918, all offensive flying ended at 11:00 am in compliance with the Armistice with Germany.  As part of the Armistice, Allied Forces were to occupy the Rhineland area of Germany beginning on 1 December.  The Third Army Air Service was established to be the air component of the United States Third Army.   Units from the First Army AS contributed to over half the strength of Third Army AS, consisting of eight Aero Squadrons, and the headquarters of the III Corps Observation Group, and the VII Corps Observation Group.
  Headquarters was officially demobilized on 15 April 1919, its men arriving in the United States by the end of May and either transferred to Air Service units or returned to civilian life.
  HQ First Army Air Service, 10 August 1918 – 15 April 1919 (La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, then Ligny-en-Barrois 26 August, and Souilly Aerodrome 21 September)
  Colonel Thomas D. Milling, Commander
  First Day Bombardment Group	10 September 1918 – 17 December 1918 (Amanty Aerodrome, then 23 September to Maulan Aerodrome)
  Major James L. Dunsworth, Commander
  11th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment) 	10 September 1918-17 December 1918 (De Havilland DH.4)
  20th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment) 	10 September 1918-17 December 1918 (De Havilland DH.4)
  96th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment)  	10 September 1918-17 December 1918 (Breguet 14B.2)
  166th Aero Squadron (Day Bombardment)	20 September 1918-21 November 1918 (De Havilland DH.4)
  First Army Observation Group    6 September 1918 – 15 April 1919 (Vavincourt Aerodrome)
  Captain Harry T. Wood, Commander
  9th Aero Squadron (Night Observation)  	26 Aug 1918-15 November 1918  (Breguet 14A.2)
  24th Aero Squadron (Army Observation)  	14 Aug 1918-15 April 1919 (Salmson 2.A2)
  91st Aero Squadron (Army Observation) 	7 May 1918-27 December 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  186th Aero Squadron (Army Observation)  27 Oct 1918-10 April 1919 (Salmson 2.A2)
  First Army Balloon Group
  Major John Paegelow, Commander
  11th Balloon Company (Fontaines)
  43d Balloon Company (Fossé)
  I Corps Observation Wing (Rampont)
  Major Melvin Adams Hall, Commander
  I Corps Observation Group	21 April 1918 – 15 April 1919 (HQ: see page)
  1st Aero Squadron (Corps Observation)  	21 April 1918-18 November 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  12th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 	30 April 1918-20 November 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  88th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation) 	28 May 1918-25 July 1918 (Salmson 2.A2)
  50th Aero Squadron (Corps Observation)  	8
caption: 11th Aero Squadron posing with its De Havilland DH.4 Bombers (Note "Mr Jiggs" on each fuselage), Maulan Aerodrome
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