8th Aero Squadron The 8th Aero Squadron was a Air Service , United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I . The squadron was assigned as a Corps Observation Squadron , performing short - range , tactical reconnaissance over the IV Corps , United States First Army sector of the Western Front in France , providing battlefield intelligence . IV Corps was transferred to the United States Second Army in October 1918 for a planned offensive drive on Metz which was cancelled due to the 1918 Armistice with Germany on 11 November . The squadron returned to the United States in June 1919 and became part of the permanent United States Army Air Service in 1921 , being re - designated as the 8th Squadron ( Surveillance ) . The current United States Air Force unit which holds its lineage and history is the 8th Special Operations Squadron , assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing , Hurlburt Field , Florida . History . Origins . The 8th Aero Squadron was drawn from enlisted personnel of the 2d Company " I " Provisional aviation camp , Kelly Field , Texas . After a short period of training at Kelly Field , the squadron boarded a train and was moved to Selfridge Field , Michigan , on 5 July . Together with the 9th Aero Squadron , the 8th helped to construct the new flying field . For three and one - half months , the 8th Aero Squadron was engaged in training . Flight Cadets , Aviation Mechanics , fitters and riggers learned their basic skills . At Selfridge , the flight cadets completed primary aviation flight training , including soloing on Curtiss JN - 4 " Jenny " trainers . By mid October , the squadron was placed on alert for overseas duty , and on the 27th , the 8th Aero boarded a train for the Aviation Concentration Center , Garden City , New York to await transportation overseas . The squadron arrived late the next day , and spent the next month being trained in the fundamentals of soldiering . On 22 November , the squadron ordered the RMS Carpathia , and after an uneventful voyage , arrived at Liverpool , England on 7 December . From Liverpool , the squadron was moved by train to the American Rest Camp " Winnaldon " , near Winchester . There , the squadron was divided into four Flights , which were sent to several Royal Flying Corps Airdromes for additional training . The squadron was re - assembled at RFC Thetford on 1 May for final training . On 16 July , the 8th was ordered to France . Combat in France . The squadron crossed the English Channel on the night of the 17th , arriving at Le Harve and proceeded to the Air Service Replacement Concentration Center at St . Maixent Replacement Barracks . After a short stay , it was classified as a Corps Observation squadron and ordered to the 1st Observation Group School at Amanty Airdrome , arriving on 31 July . At Amanty , the squadron was equipped with American made Dayton - Wright DH - 4 aircraft , being the second squadron equipped with the aircraft to reach the Western Front . In addition , due to the short distance from the front , two weeks of intensive training was given to the pilots and observers , flying over enemy territory . On 31 August the squadron was moved by train to Ourches Aerodrome from which it would fly combat missions . There the squadron became part of the IV Corps Observation Group and was attached as a Divisional Observation Squadron to the First Division . The squadron was engaged at once into combat duty , flying photographic and reconnaissance missions over the St . Mihiel Salient . On 29 September , the entire IV Corps Group moved up to Gengault Aerodrome , which is situated about two kilometers northeast of Toul , Mourth , Et Moselle , France . The Squadron remained here little less than a month . During this time considerable work was accomplished . At the suggestion of Col . Kahn , two photographic planes were sent out on single missions with protection , instead of one aircraft . On such a trip made 25 September , a string of pictures covering some forty kilometers were taken . This was one of the longest , if not the longest strip photographed by an American Observation squadron on a single mission . One of the duties assigned the Squadron at this time was to photograph the entire Corps front to a depth of ten kilometers , an area of six hundred square kilometers . A large part of these pictures had been taken before the Squadron was transferred to the VI Corps . On 8 October 1 Lt . Edward R . Moore and 1st Lt . Gardner P . Allen while on a photographic mission displayed extraordinary heroism for which they were later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross . The next day , one of the best teams in the Squadron , 1st Lt . Robert J . Cochran and 1st Lt . Claude S . Garrett , Flight commander of Flight " C " were brought down in flames while taking pictures . They , with three other planes , were attacked by twenty - six German aircraft . Three of these German planes were brought down , two by Sgt . F . G . Smith and one by Lt . S . Chambers . These two officers had won the respect and admiration of both officers and enlisted men of the Squadron . Their death was a real loss to all . On 23 October , the squadron was moved to Saizerais Aerodrome and attached to the VI Army Corps , where shortly after arrival it was joined by the 354th Aero squadron . This squadron had just arrived on the front and in order to place experienced flyers in the Squadron , Major McNarney ordered seven pilots and seven observers transferred to the 354th Squadron . While at Saizerais and before the Armistice was signed , five officers were lost . Both at Toul and Saizeraia a number of voluntary bombing missions were carried out . These met with success . While at Saizerais , one German aircraft was destroyed and officially credited to Lt . F . B . Fort and Sergeant B . B . Cook . Post - Armistice activities . The 8th Aero Squadron was engaged in active combat in France for about two and one - half months . They logged over 900 combat hours on photographic / bombing missions in the Dayton - Wright DH - 4 , " Liberty Plane " , with only one forced landing and four enemy aircraft kills credited . On 5 February 1919 , G - 3 order . s NJ . 129 , Headquarters , Second Army , was received relieving the Squadron from the II and VI Army Corps , with instructions to proceed by truck train to the 1st Air Depot , Colombey - les - Belles Airdrome , for preparation to return to the United States . Under G . H . Q . orders , only ten officers were allowed to be taken with the Squadron so it became necessary to detach the surplus officers . The planes were to be delivered to Air Service Production Center No . 2 . at Romorantin Aerodrome , a distance of about four hundred miles from the airdrome . One plane , however , was transferred to the 354th Squadron . The Flight Leaders were given orders to land at Orly Field , near Paris for gas and oil and then proceed to their destination . One plane was forced to land because of losing the drain plug from its water pump while in the air . A safe landing was made , however , and the plane was later flown to destination . By 9 : 00 P . M . 8 February 1919 , all planes had been heard from and were safe . The 8th Aero Squadron then became a ground unit . On February 19 , the Squadron entrained at Barisey - la - Cote , for St . Andre - de - Culizac . Seven box cars were assigned the Squadron for officers and men . Five days were consumed on the move to Bordeaux where , upon arrival , billets were assigned to officers and men in the small village of Fargues - Saint - Hilaire . The billets were the usual French rooms but the men were very comfortable . The Squadron Commander and his Adjutant were , assigned one of the largest chateaux in the village , splendidly furnished and equipped with billiard tables and a huge library . The squadron remained there until 19 April spending the time in preparing for embarkation . It then moved by marching to Camp Genicort , a distance of about ten kilometers , and went through the delousing mill the same day . On 20 April , the reign of terror of final preparation for return was completed and found the squadron on board the USS Pastores with the shores of La Belle , France , receding in the distance . On 2 May 1919 , the Squadron debarked and moved by ferry and train to Camp Mills , Garden City , Long Island , and was once again deloused . On 3 May the organization moved to Mitchell Field , Long Island , and the work of transferring the enlisted men to different cantonments for discharge commenced . This was completed by 20 May and the Squadron then consisted of one officer , 1st Lt . Walter Bender , and eight men , all of whom were on furlough . The squadron was then sent back to Kelly Field , Texas on 25 May 1919 . One officer and the Squadron records were transferred to Kelly Field , Texas . After reorganization at Kelly Field , Texas on July 5 , 1919 in which one officer and 150 men were assigned from Rockwell Field , California .