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IV Corps Observation Group
The IV Corps Observation Group was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I. It was demobilized on 12 May 1919. There is no modern United States Air Force unit that shares its lineage and history.
The IV Corps Observation Group was formally organized on 1 July 1918 by the First Army Air Service at Ourches Aerodrome, France, although its first personnel were organized on 27 June. It was formed for the purpose of operations in the forthcoming American offensives of First Army. Its units consisted of a Headquarters Squadron, the 135th Aero Squadron, arriving at Ourches on 30 July. A second squadron, the 8th Aero Squadron, was assigned to the group on 31 August. Both squadrons were assigned to the Group from the 1st Observation Group School at Amanty Aerodrome.
The first efforts of the Group were directed towards organization and preparation for combat operations in the coming St. Mihiel Offensive. To this end, the 8th and 135th were designated as Corps Observation Squadrons whose duty it would be to make artillery adjustments, to perform photographic missions of the Corps front, and to make long distance reconnaissances together with Divisional work.
On 11 September, the day before the attack, Group headquarters moved to Ménil-la-Tour along with First Army AS Headquarters and IV Corps HQ. Throughout the attack, direct telephone communications were maintained constantly with the flying squadrons at Ourches. The group flew day observation flights over the St. Mihiel Sailent throughout the initial defensive action, then crossing the line and performing reconnaissance patrols over enemy infantry, roads and railroads while the First Army infantry was advancing. It flew observation missions over the enemy lines, taking photographic strip photos over the entire front. One of the main missions was to photograph the entire corps line front to a depth of 10 km inside enemy territory, about 600 square km.
Headquarters remained at Ménil-la-Tour until 10 October when it moved along with IV Corps HQ to Bocq along the Belgian-French border. On 12 October, the 168th Aero Squadron, located at Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome, Toul, was assigned to the group. It was a newly organized unit and had just arrived at the front.
On 14 October 1918, the Group was relieved from First Army and transferred to the newly organized Second Army Air Service. This was to give Second Army some experienced units in preparation for the upcoming Meuse-Argonne offensive.
By this time, the front of the IV Army Corps had moved from Lake Lachaunssee to Éply. The 135th Aero Squadron was assigned to support the 28th Division and the left group of the Corps Artillery. The 8th Squadron was assigned to the right group of Corps Artillery, the 7th and 92d Divisions. The 168th was assigned to training missions in the rear to familiarize its pilots and observers with the sector. When, in the discretion of the Group Commander, they became more experienced in flying over the front, the 168th was assigned morning and evening reconnaissance patrols and was assigned to the 7th Division. It carried out artillery adjustments and destruction, special reconnaissance and photographic missions.
Each of the three squadrons also had an infantry liaison officer, who arranged for all artillery adjustments and submitted a daily report for all planned patrols by his division. He also coordinated all technical matters between and Squadron and assigned Division. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Group aircraft began to be equipped with bomb racks, and, along with photographic missions, began attacking enemy traffic centers, dropping leaflets, and machine-gunning enemy infantry formations.
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IV Corps Observation Group
The IV Corps Observation Group was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I. It was demobilized on 12 May 1919. There is no modern United States Air Force unit that shares its lineage and history.
The IV Corps Observation Group was formally organized on 1 July 1918 by the First Army Air Service at Ourches Aerodrome, France, although its first personnel were organized on 27 June. It was formed for the purpose of operations in the forthcoming American offensives of First Army. Its units consisted of a Headquarters Squadron, the 135th Aero Squadron, arriving at Ourches on 30 July. A second squadron, the 8th Aero Squadron, was assigned to the group on 31 August. Both squadrons were assigned to the Group from the 1st Observation Group School at Amanty Aerodrome.
The first efforts of the Group were directed towards organization and preparation for combat operations in the coming St. Mihiel Offensive. To this end, the 8th and 135th were designated as Corps Observation Squadrons whose duty it would be to make artillery adjustments, to perform photographic missions of the Corps front, and to make long distance reconnaissances together with Divisional work.
On 11 September, the day before the attack, Group headquarters moved to Ménil-la-Tour along with First Army AS Headquarters and IV Corps HQ. Throughout the attack, direct telephone communications were maintained constantly with the flying squadrons at Ourches. The group flew day observation flights over the St. Mihiel Sailent throughout the initial defensive action, then crossing the line and performing reconnaissance patrols over enemy infantry, roads and railroads while the First Army infantry was advancing. It flew observation missions over the enemy lines, taking photographic strip photos over the entire front. One of the main missions was to photograph the entire corps line front to a depth of 10 km inside enemy territory, about 600 square km.
Headquarters remained at Ménil-la-Tour until 10 October when it moved along with IV Corps HQ to Bocq along the Belgian-French border. On 12 October, the 168th Aero Squadron, located at Croix-de-Metz Aerodrome, Toul, was assigned to the group. It was a newly organized unit and had just arrived at the front.
On 14 October 1918, the Group was relieved from First Army and transferred to the newly organized Second Army Air Service. This was to give Second Army some experienced units in preparation for the upcoming Meuse-Argonne offensive.
By this time, the front of the IV Army Corps had moved from Lake Lachaunssee to Éply. The 135th Aero Squadron was assigned to support the 28th Division and the left group of the Corps Artillery. The 8th Squadron was assigned to the right group of Corps Artillery, the 7th and 92d Divisions. The 168th was assigned to training missions in the rear to familiarize its pilots and observers with the sector. When, in the discretion of the Group Commander, they became more experienced in flying over the front, the 168th was assigned morning and evening reconnaissance patrols and was assigned to the 7th Division. It carried out artillery adjustments and destruction, special reconnaissance and photographic missions.
Each of the three squadrons also had an infantry liaison officer, who arranged for all artillery adjustments and submitted a daily report for all planned patrols by his division. He also coordinated all technical matters between and Squadron and assigned Division. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Group aircraft began to be equipped with bomb racks, and, along with photographic missions, began attacking enemy traffic centers, dropping leaflets, and machine-gunning enemy infantry formations.
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