13th Aero Squadron
A United States Army Air Service pursuit squadron that fought on the Western Front during World War I.
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Overview
The 13th Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service pursuit unit organized during the American mobilization for World War I. Formed at Kelly Field, Texas, on 14 June 1917, it initially served as a training and deployment organization before moving to Europe and becoming a combat fighter squadron. Its principal wartime aircraft was the French-built SPAD XIII. The squadron’s early existence was devoted to preparation for overseas service. After organization at Kelly Field, its personnel moved to Wilbur Wright Field in Ohio, where aviation cadets trained on Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aircraft. The unit received orders for overseas duty in November 1917, assembled at Garden City, New York, and sailed from Philadelphia aboard SS Northland on 4 December. After arriving in Liverpool on Christmas Day, the personnel traveled through England and France to the Air Service Replacement Concentration Barracks at St. Maixent. At St. Maixent, the squadron helped develop the new American aviation installation before proceeding to the 3d Air Instructional Center at Issoudun Aerodrome. There it completed advanced flight and aerial gunnery training, including detachments to French Air Force ranges. In June 1918, the squadron moved to the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-les-Belles, where it was classified as a pursuit squadron, received SPAD XIII fighters, and joined the 2d Pursuit Group. The group also included the 22d, 49th, and 139th Aero Squadrons. From Croix de Metz Aerodrome near Toul, the 13th operated over the St. Mihiel sector. Its responsibilities included defending Allied observation aircraft, intercepting German reconnaissance aircraft, escorting Allied aircraft over enemy territory, attacking observation balloons, and supporting ground operations through strafing and tactical bombing. The squadron experienced severe losses during the aerial fighting around the St. Mihiel Offensive, including the death of George P. Kull and the capture of several pilots who were later repatriated after the Armistice. The unit moved to Belrain Aerodrome on 23 September 1918 for the Meuse-Argonne campaign. As Allied air superiority improved, its missions expanded from pursuit and escort to close support of advancing ground forces, attacks on German troops, and strikes against targets behind enemy lines. Several members were killed in action during this phase. The squadron relocated to Souilly Aerodrome on 7 November and continued operations until the Armistice on 11 November 1918. Among the personnel associated with the squadron were several credited aces, including Charles J. Biddle, Van H. Burgin, Thomas Phillips Evans, Murray K. Guthrie, Frank K. Hays, John J. Seerley, and William H. Stovall. Carl Spaatz, later a senior United States Air Force leader, also served with the squadron as a pursuit pilot during the final offensives and was credited with enemy aircraft victories. After the war, the squadron surrendered its equipment and aircraft, with its SPADs returned to French custody. Personnel were progressively detached, transported through Brest, and returned to the United States aboard SS America. The unit was demobilized at Mitchell Field, New York, on 29 March 1919. It was reconstituted and consolidated with the 13th Attack Squadron in 1936. The lineage and history are now carried by the United States Air Force’s 13th Bomb Squadron, assigned to the 509th Operations Group at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
History
The 13th Aero Squadron originated during the United States’ rapid expansion of military aviation in World War I. It was organized at Kelly Field, Texas, on 14 June 1917. Its initial period involved basic organization and preparation for aviation training. In early July, the squadron moved to Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio, where aviation cadets trained on Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aircraft. The unit received orders for overseas service on 1 November and assembled at the Aviation Concentration Center at Garden City, New York. The squadron departed Philadelphia on 4 December aboard SS Northland and reached Liverpool on 25 December. It traveled through Winchester and Le Havre before arriving at St. Maixent, France, on 1 January 1918. While waiting there, personnel performed construction and other support work connected with the developing American aviation infrastructure. Later in January, the unit transferred to Issoudun Aerodrome for advanced flying and combat instruction. Training continued for approximately four months, with detachments sent to French gunnery ranges at Meucon and Haussimont. In June 1918, the squadron moved to Colombey-les-Belles. There it was designated a pursuit squadron and received French SPAD XIII fighters. It then went to Croix de Metz Aerodrome near Toul and joined the 2d Pursuit Group of the First United States Army, alongside the 22d, 49th, and 139th Aero Squadrons. Its operational role was broad for a World War I fighter unit: it intercepted German aircraft, escorted Allied reconnaissance and bombardment aircraft, attacked observation balloons, and conducted tactical attacks against enemy positions. The squadron’s first major combat sector was St. Mihiel. It flew defensive patrols over Allied lines and escort missions into German-held territory. During the St. Mihiel Offensive, a patrol led by Charles Biddle was attacked on 14 September 1918 by German Fokker D.VII fighters associated with Jasta 18. Several original members were shot down; most were captured and later repatriated, while George P. Kull was confirmed killed in action. The episode reflected the intensity of the squadron’s early combat operations and the vulnerability of pursuit formations during the period. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive began on 26 September. The 13th moved to Belrain Aerodrome three days earlier and continued operations against German aircraft and balloons. As the Allied advance progressed, the squadron increasingly supported ground troops through low-level attacks and tactical bombing as well as conventional fighter missions. Gerald D. Stivers, Henry Guion Armstrong, Clarence A. Brodie, and Robert H. Stiles were among those killed during the campaign. On 7 November, the unit moved to Souilly Aerodrome and remained operational until the Armistice ended combat on 11 November. The squadron’s wartime personnel included several pilots credited with ace status, notably Charles J. Biddle, Van H. Burgin, Thomas Phillips Evans, Murray K. Guthrie, Frank K. Hays, John J. Seerley, and William H. Stovall. Carl Spaatz also served with the unit near the end of the war and received credit for destroying two enemy aircraft and sending another out of control during the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne operations. After the Armistice, the squadron remained at Souilly until 16 December 1918, when it was ordered to Colombey-les-Belles to surrender its equipment and leave the American Expeditionary Forces. The SPAD aircraft were transferred for return to France, and most pilots and observers were detached. Remaining personnel passed through Le Mans and Brest before crossing the Atlantic aboard SS America. The squadron was stationed at Mitchell Field from 13 to 29 March 1919 and was then demobilized. The organization remained inactive until 16 October 1936, when it was reconstituted and consolidated with the Army Air Corps’ 13th Attack Squadron. Its modern lineage is associated with the United States Air Force 13th Bomb Squadron, assigned to the 509th Operations Group at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
- 1936
Reconstitution and consolidation
[1]The squadron was reconstituted and consolidated with the 13th Attack Squadron.
- 1919
Demobilization
[1]The unit was demobilized at Mitchell Field, New York, on 29 March.
- 1918
Advanced training at Issoudun
[1]The unit conducted advanced flight and combat training at the 3d Air Instructional Center.
- 1918
Assigned SPAD XIII fighters
[1]At Colombey-les-Belles, the squadron became a pursuit unit and received SPAD XIII aircraft.
- 1918
St. Mihiel operations
[1]The squadron fought over the St. Mihiel sector in pursuit, escort, interception, and balloon-attack missions.
- 1918
Meuse-Argonne operations
[1]The squadron supported the Meuse-Argonne Offensive with air combat and attacks against enemy ground targets.
- 1917
Organization at Kelly Field
[1]The 13th Aero Squadron was organized at Kelly Field, Texas, on 14 June.
- 1917
Overseas movement begins
[1]The squadron departed the United States on 4 December aboard SS Northland for service in France.
Products and positioning
A World War I American military aviation unit specializing in fighter pursuit, aerial escort, balloon attacks, and tactical support of ground operations.
Fighter aircraft · 1917
SPAD XIII
The French SPAD XIII was the principal combat aircraft used by the 13th Aero Squadron during its 1918 operations on the Western Front. The squadron received the aircraft at Colombey-les-Belles after completing advanced training and used them for pursuit, escort, interception, balloon attacks, and limited ground-support missions.
Training aircraft
Curtiss JN-4 Jenny
The Curtiss JN-4 Jenny served as the squadron’s training aircraft during its early preparation in the United States. Aviation cadets trained on the type at Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio, before the unit moved to the overseas concentration and advanced-training system.
Marketing campaigns
- 1918St. Mihiel Offensive
France · Western Front
The 13th Aero Squadron protected the St. Mihiel sector, intercepted German aircraft, escorted Allied observation aircraft, and attacked hostile observation balloons during the Allied offensive against the St. Mihiel salient.
Outcome. The operation ended the salient and the squadron continued into the subsequent Meuse-Argonne operations, although it suffered significant personnel losses.
- 1918Meuse-Argonne Offensive
France · Western Front
Operating first from Belrain and later Souilly, the squadron conducted pursuit and escort missions while also strafing enemy troops and bombing targets within German lines.
Outcome. Combat operations ended with the Armistice on 11 November 1918.
Brand decisions
1936
Reconstitution and lineage consolidationStrategyBackground
The inactive World War I squadron’s historical lineage was incorporated into the expanding Army Air Corps organization.
Action taken
The 13th Aero Squadron was reconstituted and consolidated with the 13th Attack Squadron.
Aftermath
The lineage ultimately became associated with the modern United States Air Force 13th Bomb Squadron.
1918
Transition to an operational pursuit squadronStrategyBackground
After completing training in France, the unit required an operational aircraft type and a combat assignment within the First Army’s air organization.
Action taken
The squadron was redesignated as a pursuit unit, equipped with SPAD XIII fighters, and assigned to the 2d Pursuit Group.
Aftermath
It entered combat over the St. Mihiel sector and later performed increasingly varied air-support missions during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Sources1 sources
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