James D. Henderson, 28 (US?!!) Squadron

[ONEALM]

Gents -

Here's a riddle for someone to solve. I've been looking at this period in history the better part of 35 years and this is the first I have heard of this....

BaldEagle presented us with a conundrum regarding 2/Lt. James D. Henderson, a USAS officer and pilot from New York State.

Sloan's book - which is occassionally wrong, but remarkably complete given the ground it covers, has him listed as James G. Henderson assigned to both 98 and 25 RAF from 5-1-18 to 10-10-18. I do not completely trust those dates though.

I checked the Boal Report (Gorrell Record Group B, Vol.12) which is a synopsis of all the USAS officers assigned to Brit/French units and a history of the Lafayette by Dr. Gros. This is typically very accurate.

Two US DH-9 Squadrons are listed, the 22nd and 28th. Both of those in the USAS were well known fighter units, not DH-9 squadrons, but they are clearly listed as DH-9 units in Boal. I do not know for certain, but I think this was probably an attempt to organize two units like the 17th and 148th that were "American" but under Brit command.

Here's the rest on 2/Lt. Henderson"

2/Lt. Henderson, James D., CO 28th US Squadron

• 1 May 1918 - Appointed adjutant, Provisional Aviaiton Wing with B.E.F., para 1 SO 1, HQ Provisional Aviation Wing with BEF
• 25 May 1918 - Relieved of duty as adjutant and to duty as CO "W" (almost illegible in the report, but I think it's a "W") ground flight training with 98 Squadron RAF (DH-9) squadron.
• 18 June 1918 - Appointed CO, 28th US Squadron, Para 2, SO 10, HQ American Air Service Units with BEF

This was almost certainly a training formation. 98 Squadron was a DH-9 unit, but it was British commanded, formed in 1917 and in France in 1918.

So the question is - what were the 22nd and 28th Squadron (US) mentioned here in Boal ? Has anyone else ever heard of them ?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.
Mike

[ONEALM]

I can tell from the number of replies people were anxiously awaiting the solution to this puzzle..

While I was waiting for an answer I received a few clues from another forumite who lead me to the right documentation to crack this nut.

The 28th, 25th and 22nd Aero were all originally formed with the intention of serving under British command - similar to the 17th and 148 Aero Squadrons. The 28th was formed as a DH-9 unit initially, but it's members were later dispersed to British and US units and the squadron reconstituted at the 28th Aero flying SPADs and under US command.

Mystery solved !
MIke

[Balloon_Buster]

Well, if a "Henderson" was involved, I'm sure he served with distinction!