258th Aero Squadron The 258th 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 VII Corps , United States First Army sector of the Western Front in France , providing battlefield intelligence . After the 1918 Armistice with Germany , the squadron was assigned to the United States Third Army as part of the Occupation of the Rhineland in Germany . It returned to the United States in August 1919 and was demobilized . There is no current United States Air Force or Air National Guard successor unit . History . Origins . The 258th Aero Squadron was temporarily formed on 1 January 1918 at 02 : 00 out of a sleepy contingent of men at Kelly Field , Texas which were lined up in formation and assigned to the unit . The men were ordered to Camp MacArthur , Waco , Texas on 14 February where the squadron was formally organized and designated . After several weeks of drill and instruction in soldiering , on 1 March the 258th was ordered to Wilbur Wright Field , Fairfield , Ohio for technical training in which the men were classified based on their ability for the line of work which they would be assigned . On short notice , the squadron was notified to move to the Aviation Concentration Center , Hazelhurst Field ( Field # 2 ) , New York at which they arrived on 23 March . The squadron , along with the 257th AS were given the duty of preparing a tent encampment . When erected , the squadron was sent to Mineola Field ( # 1 , later Mitchell Field ) to receive training in the uncrating and assembly of airplanes . As part of their duties at Mineola , the squadron erected another tent camp which was used for receiving new aircraft . It was designated " Acceptance Park " . On 29 May , orders were received for overseas duty , the squadron boarding the SS President Grant . It arrived at Brest , France on 12 June , where the squadron was assigned to a Rest Camp . From Brest , it boarded a troop train , arriving at the St . Maixent Replacement Barracks on 17 July . After a week at the Replacement Concentration Center being equipped for duty , it was ordered to proceed to the 3d Air Instructional Center at Issoudun Aerodrome for combat training . It arrived at the 3d AIC on 24 July , where it was temporarily assigned to Field # 3 ( Solo Flying , Cross Country , basic aerobatics training ) . It was later reassigned to Field # 9 where it was engaged in maintenance work of Nieuport 18M aircraft . Combat in France . Several pilots and observers were assigned to the squadron on 19 September and the 258th was designated as a Corps Observation , being assigned to the VII Corps Observation Group at Luxeuil - les - Bains Aerodrome . Luxeuil , although in the " Zone of Advance " ( the Western Front ) , was primarily an equipping and organizing station , but not far from the lines to operate from . Also at Luxeuil , the squadron was equipped with 24 Salmson 2A2 reconnaissance aircraft , which were ferried from Orly Field , near Paris . However , only five squadron pilots were available , and the 258th remained at Luxeuil awaiting additional personnel . According to the squadron history , the members of the squadron were extremely frustrated at the time , being ready to go into combat with new airplanes , but without adequate numbers of pilots and observers . However , the squadron took advantage of the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the local area , practicing formation flying along and over the front , although not on any ordered missions . German Anti - Aircraft Artillery fire was received although the Germans did not challenge the Salmsons with any Fokker s or other pursuit planes . On one patrol along the line , one of the observers noted some planes he judged to be German . Also , while waiting for additional pilots and observers , the 258th conducted a school for infantry officers in liaison work with observation planes . Instruction was provided to officers of the 7th , 81st and 88th Divisions of VII Corps . The shortage of pilots and observers meant the squadron remained at Luxeuil until 31 October when it finally was ordered into combat and moved to Mathay Aerodrome on 31 October . It ' s mission was to provide reconnaissance for the French 7th Army , being the first AEF squadron to patrol around Altkirch and Mulhouse . For the next eleven days , the squadron flew over the lines . German aircraft were encountered but never attacked the squadron ' s formations , however the German Anti - Aircraft fire was very effective and active . It then was ordered to fly reconnaissance over the city of Metz . Third Army of Occupation . The squadron remained at Mathay Aerodrome until being assigned to Weißenthurm Airdrome , Germany on 15 April 1919 to serve as part of the occupation force of the Rhineland under the Third Army Air Service , III Corps Observation Group . There , the squadron began a series of photo - reconnaissance flights in the occupied Rhineland of major manufacturing centers , important cities and towns in both Occupied Germany as well as Luxembourg . Lines of communication ( railroads , rivers and roads ) were carefully mapped and photographed . It also operated some Dayton - Wright DH - 4 s at Weißenthurm during the summer of 1919 when the Salmsons were returned to the French . In addition , squadron was able to perform test flights on surrendered German aircraft . Flights of the Fokker D . VII , Pfalz D . XII , Halberstadts and Rumpler aircraft were made and evaluations were made . Demobilization . On 18 July 1919 orders were received from Third Army for the squadron to report to the 1st Air Depot , Colombey - les - Belles Airdrome to turn in all of its supplies and equipment and was relieved from duty with the AEF . The squadron ' s planes were delivered to the Air Service Production Center No . 2 . at Romorantin Aerodrome , and there , practically all of the pilots and observers were detached from the Squadron . Personnel were subsequently assigned to the Commanding General , Services of Supply and ordered to report to one of several staging camps in France . There , personnel awaited scheduling to report to one of the Base Ports in France for transport to the United States and subsequent demobilization . The 258th Aero Squadron was demobilized at Mitchell Field , New York on 1 August 1919 .