The U.S. Air Service in World War I (Volume 1) The Final Report and a Tactical History
When hostilities ceased on November 11, 1918, there were actually assigned to armies 45 American squadrons and 767 pilots, 481 observers, 23 aerial gunners, and the complement of soldiers. These squadrons were equipped with 740 airplanes, with armament of the latest type, arid the flying personnel, trained in Air Service schools was second to none in the world for aggressiveness and skill. Twelve oi these squadrons were equipped with American built airplanes and Liberty engines. This engine in actual service fulfilled the highest hope of it which had been entertained in the United States. On the Marne, at St. Mihiel, and in the Argonne air forces were pitted against the best which Germany could produce, and the results show that the enemy more than met his match. Our pilots shot down 781 enemy airplanes which were officially confirmed, and many others, too far behind the lines to be confirmed by our own witnesses, but which were nevertheless undoubtedly destroyed. They also destroyed 73 (confirmed) enemy balloons. Our total losses in air battles were 289 airplanes and 48 balloons brought down by the enemy.
464 pages
