1st United States airforce squadron of 1918

I need information on the first U.S. squadron. I recently got ahold of a leather cloth with a painted Indian head emblem on it. It is dated 1918 and signed 1st Squadron USAS. If you have any information on it, please contact me.

Heres a panoramic photo of 1st Aero at Ft. Sam Huston, 1916. <p align="center">Library of Congress</p>
It gives you an idea of who you're dealing with.
Can someone positively i.d. the a/c for Keith and myself.

Without checking any references I believe the symbol for the 1st Squadron was the U.S. flag.
Regards,
Steve

I'm a novice at WWI aviation, but the American Escadrille was the first squadron of Americans in France in WWI, and their insignia was an Indian Head. This was in 1916, before the US got officially involved. If this sounds useful, I can provide much more information.

I should add that the Lafayette Escadrille continued fighting after the US joined the war effort (under US command), keeping their insignia, and no doubt they would have considered themselves the first unit.

[Lufbery]

Yes, the Lafeyette Escadrille did, in fact, become a US pursuit squadron after it was disbanded: The US 103rd.

-Drew

[wingstrutdotcom]

If the reference is to 1st Aero it was assigned to the front on April 8, 1918 and demobilized on 7/1/19. It served with the 1st Corp Observation Group and was first USAS unit to be assigned to front beating out 94th Aero by one day. The unit flew the AR1 early then moved onto the Salmson. The unit insignia in WWI was a large US waving flag.

The unit was the very first unit of the US to be used in military operations. Prior to WWI the unit was used in the "Punitive Expedition" flying converted JN3s used to chase Pancho Villa from approximatly March 15, 1916 to Aug 15, 1916. The units planes were painted in light color, (CDL?) carrying large #s on the side (examples 44, 45, 48, 53). These planes also carried a painted star high on the rudder (possibly red?).

Sources: USAS HISTORY Vol I-IV.
btw: You can find an actual fabric sample of the unit insignia from WWI taken from an ARI. It is located at the USAF Museum in Dayton Ohio. They have a website and photo online.

[leo]

Before they flew Salmsons they flew AR 1's. Perhaps my memory has failed me(again), but I do not believe I know what an AR 1 is.

[PeterL]

Leo, the AR1 is often called the Dorand AR1. If it still doesn't ring a bell try to imagine a mishapen Bristol Fighter with the fuselage rigged mid-gap, back staggered wing cell and underslung radiator. Not at all the model of the elegant French aeroplane.

For a short time between the AR1 and the Salmson 1st Aero had a number of SPAD XI's. Luckily for the crews they were soon replaced.

Peter L

[leo]

Well, I'll be darned. I found it in Harleyford's. "Reconaissance and Bomber Aircrsft of the 1914-1918 War". Thanks for the lead, Peter. Talk about ugly ducklings.

leo