USAS 1st Pursuit Group

First in many ways

Declaring war on Germany on 6 April 1917, the United States was a late arrival in World War 1, but by mid-1918 the soldiers and airmen of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) were playing a significant role in stopping the last major enemy offensive of the war, and in the final Allied push that would end the conflict.

Although the US Army Air Service (USAS) never succeeded in fielding an indigenously designed aeroplane before the Armistice on 11 November 1918, it assembled a sizeable force using aircraft bought – or in the case of the de Havilland DH 4, built under licence – from its French and British allies. During the USAS’ relatively short time in combat, several of its squadrons and men managed to acquire a renown worthy of their allies and adversaries.

Arguably the most notable collection of American aerial paladins was the 1st Pursuit Group, made up of the 27th, 94th, 95th, 147th and, in the war’s final month, 185th Aero Squadrons. Among other things, the group produced the first American trained fighter pilot to score an aerial victory and later become an ace, the highest-ranking American ace, the highest-scoring American balloon ace, and the first USAS member – indeed, two members – to earn the Medal of Honor. It also ended the conflict with the highest tally of aerial successes in the AEF, the last one of which was also the final American fighter victory of the war.

Amid general preparations to train and ship USAS airmen overseas, on 16 January 1918 Maj Bert M Atkinson, Capt Philip J Roosevelt, Capt John G Rankin, six sergeants first class and one civilian employee were assigned to the 1st Pursuit Organization Center at the French aerodrome at Villeneuve-des-Vertus. On 2 February construction began on barracks, hangars and other facilities for what was now designated the 1st Pursuit Group, whose initial aircraft complement would be 36 Nieuport 28 fighters purchased from France.

Built in the late summer of 1917, the 28.C1 departed from previous Nieuport sesquiplane designs in having a true biplane structure with two-spar wings in order to accommodate more powerful engines such as the 160 hp Gnome monosoupape 9N rotary. It was also more heavily armed than its predecessors, with twin 0.30-calibre synchronised Vickers machine guns. The French government had awarded the new fighter a production contract, but cancelled the order shortly thereafter because the Aéronautique Militaire was too committed to the SPAD XIII, with its sturdier airframe and 220 hp Hispano-Suiza 8B engine.

The United States was also interested in procuring SPAD XIIIs, but the initial priorities placed on equipping French escadrilles led the USAS to order 297 Nieuports in order to provide its pilots with a reasonably effective fighter until the SPADs became available. In consequence, the 1st Pursuit Group added to its distinctions that of being the only unit to use the Nieuport 28 in combat.