139th Aero Squadron

139th Aero Squadron
139th Aero Squadron, Souilly Aerodrome, France, November 1918
Active	21 September 1917-17 June 1919
Country	United States
Branch	Air Service, United States Army
Type	Squadron
Role	Pursuit
Part of	American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Fuselage Code	"Flying Mercury"
Engagements	World War I
Commanders
Notable commanders	Lt. David Endicott Putnam (Acting) Maj. Lawrence C. Angstrom
Insignia
139th Aero Squadron Emblem
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Nieuport 28, 1918 SPAD VII, 1918 SPAD XIII, 1918-1919
Trainer	Curtiss JN-4, 1917

Service record
Operations	2d Pursuit Group Western Front, France: 12 June-11 November 1918
Victories	34 aircraft Air Aces: 7 Lt. Harold H. George, 5 (4 shared) Lt. Edward M. Haight, 5 (4 shared) Lt. Robert O. Lindsay, 6 (5 shared) Lt. Joseph S. Owens, 5 (all shared) Capt. David E. Putnam, 4 (1 probable)* * Putnam had a total of 13 aerial victories, 4 of which were shared, and also 13 probables. 9 of his victories were while he was serving with MS156 and Spa38 of the French Air Service before joining the 139th A.S. Lt. Wendel A. Robertson, 7 (6 shared) Lt. Karl Schoen, Jr., 7 (all shared)

34 aircraft

Air Aces: 7

The 139th Aero Squadron was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I.

The squadron was assigned as a day pursuit (fighter) squadron as part of the 2d Pursuit Group, First United States Army. Its mission was to engage and clear enemy aircraft from the skies and provide escort to reconnaissance and bombardment squadrons over enemy territory. It also attacked enemy observation balloons, and performed close air support and tactical bombing attacks on enemy forces along the front lines.

The squadron was very successful in combat, having half a dozen air aces including David Putnam, Karl Schoen, Robert Opie Lindsay, and future Brigadier General Harold H. George.

After the 1918 Armistice with Germany, the squadron returned to the United States in June 1919 and was demobilized. There is no current United States Air Force or Air National Guard unit that shares its lineage and history.

The 139th Aero Squadron was organized at Kelly Field, Texas on 21 September 1917. After a period of indoctrination training, orders were issued for the squadron to proceed to Toronto, Quebec, Canada for technical training under the British Royal Flying Corps (RFC). However, these orders were countermanded and the squadron remained at Kelly Field until 28 October 1917, when it was ordered to proceed to Barron Field, Everman, Texas for training under the RFC. One week later it moved again to Hicks Field, Saginaw Texas for further training. During the squadron's training at Hicks Field, numerous transfers of personnel were made and the squadron was brought to a strength of 204 men.

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