185th Aero Squadron
| 185th Aero Squadron | |
|---|---|
Officers of the 185th Aero Squadron, Rembercourt Aerodrome, France, November 1918
|
|
| Active | 11 November 1917 – 30 June 1919 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 Air Service, United States Army
|
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Night Pursuit |
| Part of | American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) |
| Fuselage Code | "Bats" |
| Engagements |
 World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lt. Seth Low Capt. Jerry C. Vasconcells |
| Insignia | |
| 185th Aero Squadron Emblem |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Sopwith Camel F.1, 1918 |
| Service record | |
|---|---|
| Operations |
1st Pursuit Group
|
| Victories | No official victories, however the 1st Pursuit Group commander, Col. Harold E. Hartney flew a night patrol in a squadron aircraft on 22 October 1918 and engaged a German Gotha G.V bomber. He attacked the aircraft and the aircraft he flew came back bullet-ridden, however no claim of a victory was made. Later, the crashed remains of a Gotha was found in the area where he was engaged in combat. It may have been the first (and only) night victory of the Air Service during World War I. |
1st Pursuit Group
Western Front, France: 5 October-11 November 1918
The 185th Aero Squadron was a Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I.
Known as the "Bats", the 185th Aero Squadron is notable as it was the first and only night pursuit (fighter) squadron organized by the United States during World War I. Its mission was night interception of enemy aircraft, primarily bombers and observation aircraft. It was engaged in combat for less than a month before the 1918 Armistice with Germany. After the armistice, the squadron returned to the United States in June 1919 and was demobilized.
There is no modern United States Air Force or Air National Guard unit that shares its lineage and history.
The 185th Aero Squadron was organized on 11 November 1917 at Kelly Field #2, Texas by the transfer of men from the 24th Aero Squadron. Many of the men had experience flying or maintaining the Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny" trainers. On the 15th, additional men were transferred to the squadron from the 2d Recruit Battalion and 3d Recruit Battalion. On 20 January 1918, the squadron was transferred to Aviation Concentration Center, Mitchell Field, Long Island for duty overseas. After just over a week, the squadron embarked on the RMS Adriatic, arriving in Liverpool, England on 16 February after being delayed in Halifax, Nova Scotia for a convoy. At Liverpool, the squadron boarded a train and arrived at Winchester, England that evening, where it was assigned to the Romney Rest Camp.
On 28 February, the squadron was divided into Flights and placed under control of the Royal Flying Corps for training. "B", "C" and "D" flights were transferred to 4 Training Depot Station (TDS) at RFC Hooton Park in Cheshire. "A" flight was transferred to 63 TDS, RFC Ternhill, Shropshire.
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