Olham Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 "I recently acquired a scrapbook with about 50 snapshots from World War One. They are from the 1st Pursuit Group which is comprised at that time of the 27th "Eagle Squadron", 94th "Hat In The Ring", and the 95th "Kicking Mule". There were later squadrons, but I believe that these were the first. The 1st Operations Group is the oldest air combat group in the US service. The First Pursuit Group which we have here was operational is France about May, 1918. The 94th and 95th Aero Squadrons were the first assigned to the Group." For the picture, the text is: "WWI-3 - Lineup of 27th AS Spads at Rembercourt postwar. In theforeground is an unmarked Blériot-built Spad with red cowl of A-Flight.The second Spad in line is #26, thought to be the replacement airplanebeing prepared for Frank Luke at the time he was killed on 29September. If so it would likely be Kellner-built S.7686 assigned 24September and salvaged at the 1st Air Depot on 15 December 1918. Thisphoto indicates a blue cowl, the flight marking for B-Flight. Anotherview of this lineup also shows the plane with the diamond motif on thecowl (plane #13) in the same position relative to #26, and it has thesame blemish on the wheel disc. Capt. Alfred Grant’s diary indicatesthat his plane #13 was one of four transferred to the 94th AS on 14November. However, another Blériot-built machine, S.18872, was receivedon 20 November and returned to the 1st Air Depot on 8 December. Thiscould be the #13 machine with the diamond motif. If so, theearly-December hypothesis for the photo (see HJ.37) could still hold.ADT 10/12/07" http://www.minnesooota.com/main_AeroSquadron.asp Quote
RAF_Louvert Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 That is an outstanding website Olham, and is on the list of resources I will be posting after the finish of the "What's My Plane" contest. Cheers! Lou Quote
UK_Widowmaker Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 Looks like Canes were all the rage in 1918!!! Hugely evocative photo's, thanks Olham..you've come up trumps again Quote
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