94th Squadron-Aero or Pursuit

Kirby · 20 December 1999, 09:46 AM

O.K., it's time to educate the Old Man again. At the AF Museum (my home away from home)I see two insigniae, both said to be from WWI. The familiar "Hat in the Ring" mark listed as the 94th Aero Squadron and another, a white circle with an Indian wearing a war bonnet listed as the 94th Pursuit Squadron. On the internet I find

Eddie Rickenbacker listed with both outfits. Did the 94th Aero evolve into the 94th Pursuit or were they two separate entities all the time and, if so, what was the difference in their missions?

A little history if you will.

VBR
Kirby

20 December 1999, 01:10 PM

Kirby,
I believe that the Indian insignia was the 27th Aero Squadron (of

Frank Luke) fame, and the 94th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) was the Hat in The Ring insignia as it was the first USAS Squadron to actually go to war hence "hat in the ring".
VBR,
Jim

PeterL · 20 December 1999, 07:10 PM

Kirby, the change occurred round about 1922 during the units re-equipment withe the Boeing Morse MB3A. I have a couple of photos showing a squadron line up at that time and aircraft wearing both insignia are seen. The indian head was more akin to the 103rd's marking, but cruder and less pleasingly proportioned IMO. The same marking appeared later on the P26.

Peter L

Kirby · 21 December 1999, 09:21 AM

Jim and Peter

Thank you both for your kind replies. Apparently the Indian head insignia was mislabeled as WWI when it was actually slightly post war.

VBR
Kirby

Barrett · 21 December 1999, 12:06 PM

Jim, et al: The 27th's emblem was an eagle superimposed on an orange ball. I believe the indian (native american?) head was in fact a holdover from the Lafayette (N/SPA.124) with the 103rd Aero.

21 December 1999, 01:39 PM

Barrett,
I stand, sit, walk, and etc. ... corrected! ; ) I forgot that it was the Lafayette Escadrille that had the Indian head.
VBR,
Jim

21 December 1999, 04:44 PM

Actually, there was more than one unit that used an Indian Head as their symbol. the 28th, 93rd and 103rd all used an Indian head as an insignia.
Regards,
Steve

22 December 1999, 04:35 PM

In response to the original posting "aero or pursuit" this is how I understand things to have been: Once part of the First Pursuit Group; squadrons formerly refered to as "Aero Squadrons" became known as "Pursuit Squadrons". Surely derived from "Chasse", as I believe at the time, American aero units were under French command.
BTW dont forget the "Kicking Mule" inginia of the 95th; America's second "Pursuit" squadron.