135th Aero Squadron
| 135th Aero Squadron | |
|---|---|
Group photo of the 135th Aero Squadron with their famous mascot "Rin Tin Tin", Gengault Aerodrome, Toul, France, November 1918
|
|
| Active | 16 June 1917-14 March 1921 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 Air Service, United States Army
|
| Role | Corps Observation |
| Size | Squadron |
| Part of | American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) |
| Nickname(s) | "Liberty Squadron" |
| Engagements |
 World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Capt. Ray C Bridgeman Lt. George W. Lindsay Lt Henry K. Davis |
| Insignia | |
| 135th Aero Squadron Emblem |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Reconnaissance | Dayton-Wright DH-4, 1918-1919 |
| Trainer |
Wright-Martin Model V, 1917 Curtiss Model J, 1917 |
| Service record | |
|---|---|
| Operations |
IV Corps Observation Group Western Front, France: 28 July-11 November 1918 |
The 135th Aero Squadron was a Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I.
The squadron was assigned as a Corps Observation Squadron, performing short-range, tactical reconnaissance over the IV Corps, United States First Army sector of the Western Front in France, providing battlefield intelligence. In combat, the 135th was the first Air Service unit equipped with the all American made Dayton-Wright DH-4 aircraft.
IV Corps was transferred to the United States Second Army in October 1918 for a planned offensive drive on Metz which was cancelled due to the 1918 Armistice with Germany on 11 November. The squadron returned to the United States in June 1919 and became part of the permanent United States Army Air Service in 1921, being re-designated as the 22d Squadron (Observation).
The current United States Air Force unit which holds its lineage and history is the 22d Intelligence Squadron, assigned to the 707th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
The 135th Aero Squadron was organized at Rockwell Field, near San Diego, California on 1 August 1917. It was formed from personnel transferred from the 14th and 18th Aero Squadrons, being originality designated as "Company A, 1st Aviation School, Rockwell Field". The men of the squadron began their training as aircraft mechanics on the first planes used by the United States Army. Fourteen Wright-Martin Model V and Curtiss Model J "Tractors" were used to train the first men as pilots in the Army. In fact, the first eighty-seven officers to be trained for flying were trained at Rockwell Field.
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