2nd Day Bombardment Group

The 2nd Day Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Service formation created in France during World War I for daylight bombing operations against targets on the Western Front. It was organized at Ourches Aerodrome near Toul, France, on 1 November 1918, under the Second Army Air Service. Its component formations were the 100th Aero Squadron and the 163rd Aero Squadron, both designated for day bombardment. The group operated Dayton-Wright DH-4 aircraft and was supported with bombs, ammunition, and aviation gasoline supplied through the 1st Air Depot. The group was assembled only a short time before the Armistice. After several days spent organizing personnel, aircraft, supplies, and operational plans, its aircraft were reported ready for combat by 7 November 1918. On 8 November, the Second Army issued orders for combat operations and provided objectives in enemy-held territory. Poor weather then prevented effective activity. On the morning of 11 November, the group's aircraft were prepared for a mission against Conflans, but the Armistice with Germany took effect at 11:00 a.m., and the planned raids were cancelled. Following the Armistice, the organization did not conduct the combat campaign for which it had been formed. Instead, its squadrons carried out limited proficiency flying so that pilots and aircrew could maintain operational skills. The group remained at Ourches Aerodrome while the American Expeditionary Forces transitioned from wartime operations to demobilization. On 15 April 1919, the 2nd Day Bombardment Group was demobilized in France in connection with the inactivation of the Second Army Air Service. Its equipment was ordered returned to the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-les-Belles Aerodrome. Personnel were transferred administratively to the Commanding General, Services of Supply, and sent to staging camps pending transportation through French base ports to the United States and final demobilization. The unit is therefore best understood as a historical military organization rather than a continuing commercial brand. It had no documented civilian product portfolio, consumer market, commercial website, public listing, or modern corporate successor. Reference material states that no present-day United States Air Force unit shares its lineage and history.

The 2nd Day Bombardment Group was established in France on 1 November 1918 as part of the Air Service of the Second United States Army. Its formation occurred at Ourches Aerodrome, near Toul, during the final phase of the First World War. The group brought together a headquarters staff and two day-bombardment squadrons: the 100th Aero Squadron and the 163rd Aero Squadron. Before the group was formally organized, the two squadrons had arrived at the front and had been assigned directly to the Second Army Air Service. The group's immediate task was to prepare for daylight bombing missions over German-held territory. By 7 November, after several days of administrative organization, logistical preparation, and operational planning, the group's Dayton-Wright DH-4 aircraft were considered ready for combat. Bombs, munitions, and aviation gasoline had been received from the 1st Air Depot, allowing the formation to plan missions rather than merely conduct training or ferrying activity. On 8 November, the Second Army issued orders directing the group to undertake combat operations and supplied a list of objectives in enemy territory. Weather conditions, however, severely limited the unit's ability to act. Flying conditions remained poor, making operations ineffective or impracticable. On 11 November, the group's aircraft were positioned and prepared for a mission against Conflans. The planned raid did not take place because the Armistice with Germany came into force at 11:00 a.m. All bombing missions were cancelled when hostilities ended. The organization remained in France after the Armistice. Its postwar activity consisted mainly of limited proficiency flying, intended to preserve pilot and aircrew competence while the Army Air Service moved from combat readiness toward demobilization. The group continued to be based at Ourches Aerodrome until the spring of 1919. It did not develop into a permanent peacetime aviation organization. On 15 April 1919, the Second Army Air Service was inactivated and the 2nd Day Bombardment Group was ordered demobilized. Its equipment was to be returned to the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-les-Belles Aerodrome. Personnel were assigned to the Commanding General, Services of Supply, and directed to staging camps in France. From those camps, they awaited transportation to one of the French base ports and onward movement to the United States, where they would complete the broader demobilization process. The group's operational life was consequently brief, and its combat record was limited by the timing of its creation and the Armistice. The available reference material identifies it as a historical United States Army Air Service unit and notes that no current United States Air Force organization shares its lineage and history.

• 1919

  Demobilization

  [1]2nd Day Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was demobilized in France on 15 April after the inactivation of the Second Army Air Service.

• 1918

  Formation in France

  [1]2nd Day Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 2nd Day Bombardment Group was organized at Ourches Aerodrome near Toul, France, on 1 November as part of the Second Army Air Service.

• 1918

  Aircraft and supplies prepared for operations

  [1]2nd Day Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  By 7 November, the group's Dayton-Wright DH-4 aircraft had been made ready for combat and the formation had received bombs, munitions, and aviation gasoline.

• 1918

  Combat orders received

  [1]2nd Day Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 8 November, the Second Army issued operational orders and assigned objectives in enemy territory, but bad weather restricted flying.

• 1918

  Planned raid cancelled by the Armistice

  [1]2nd Day Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Aircraft were prepared on 11 November for a mission against Conflans, but the Armistice took effect at 11:00 a.m. and the raid was cancelled.

A World War I United States Army Air Service day-bombardment formation organized for daylight bombing operations on the Western Front.

• 1919

  Post-Armistice demobilizationOther

  Background

  The inactivation of the Second Army Air Service required the associated wartime formations to be dismantled.

  Action taken

  The group was demobilized, its equipment was ordered returned to the 1st Air Depot, and its personnel were routed through Services of Supply staging arrangements for return to the United States.

  Aftermath

  The formation ceased to exist and did not become the direct predecessor of a current United States Air Force unit.

  Source

• 1918

  Preparation for daylight bombing operationsStrategy

  Background

  The group was organized near the end of World War I to conduct day-bombardment missions over enemy territory as part of the Second Army Air Service.

  Action taken

  It assembled the 100th and 163rd Aero Squadrons, prepared Dayton-Wright DH-4 aircraft, and accumulated bombs, munitions, and aviation fuel for operations.

  Aftermath

  The Armistice prevented the planned bombing missions from being carried out, after which the group restricted its flying largely to proficiency activity.

  Source

1. 12nd Day Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org