2d Pursuit Group

2d Pursuit Group
Staff of the 2d Pursuit Group, Belrain Aerodrome, France
Active	1918–1919
Country	United States
Branch	Air Service, United States Army
Type	Group
Role	Command of pursuit squadrons
Part of	American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Engagements	World War I St. Mihiel Offensive Campaign Meuse-Argonne Offensive Campaign

The 2d Pursuit Group was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I as part of the Air Service, First United States Army. It was demobilized in France on 10 April 1919. There is no modern United States Air Force unit that shares its lineage and history.

History

The group was organized on 29 June 1918 at Gengault Aerodrome, Toul, France. The 22d Aero Squadron was initially the only unit assigned. The 2d Pursuit Group immediately began operations against the enemy. The 139th Aero Squadron was assigned to the group the next day, and by 15 August the 13th and 49th Aero Squadrons filled out the unit's complement of squadrons. All the group's squadrons were equipped with French SPAD S.XIIIs. In theory the group totaled 72 aircraft and an equal number of pilots. The reality was that it was rare for the number of pilots to equal the number of aircraft or for the aircraft to be fully standardized across the entire group.^[1]

When the armistice with Germany was signed and hostilities ceased at 11:00 on 11 November 1918, the pilots of the group had flown 7,788:21 hours in combat over enemy territory. In the 111 flying days made possible by the weather, 358 pilots engaged the enemy in 166 air battles with the loss of 30 pilots. During the 166 air battles, 132 victories were credited to the pilots of the group, with 16 flying aces having the destruction of five or more enemy aircraft to their credit. In addition, four pilots of the group were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross.^[1]

Lineage

Organized as the 2d Pursuit Group on 29 June 1918

Demobilized on 10 April 1919^[1]

Assignments

First Army Air Service, 29 June 1918
1st Pursuit Wing, 6 July 1918
First Army Air Service, 11 December 1918 – 10 April 1919^[1]

Components

13th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 28 June 1918 – 5 December 1918
22d Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 22 August 1918 – 10 April 1919
49th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 14 August 1918 – 5 December 1918
139th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 12 June 1918 – 11 December 1918^[1]

Stations

Gengault Aerodrome, Toul, France, 29 June – 23 September 1918
Belrain Aerodrome, France, 23 September 1918 – 10 April 1919^[1]

References

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 Gorrell

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Gorrell, Col. Edgar S. (1974). History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919. Series C. Vol. 10 History of the 2d Pursuit Group. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. OCLC 215070705. (available on - membership required for access)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2d Pursuit Group.

United States Air Force

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