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First Over the Front

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Contents

Chap. 1 Ordered to Active Duty April 26, 1917.......................................................................1Chap. 2 In France At Last Paris, September 11, 1917.................................................................19Chap. 3 French hospitality – Rain and Mud October 5, 1917.....................................................33Chap. 4 Big Guns Grumbling November 3, 1917.........................................................................43Chap. 5 Air Mail Delivery – Barney's Air Show December 2, 1917................................................49Chap. 6 Crash Landing – Guest of the Regiment December 27, 1917...............................................65Chap. 7 Dawn of a New Year January 7, 1918..........................................................................73Chap. 8 Squadron's First Victory February 7, 1918...................................................................81Chap. 9 Plessis – Belleville – Pick up New S.P.A.D.s March First, 1918..................................91Chap. 10 Cazaux – French Aerial Gunnery School April 2, 1918..................................................97Chap. 11 First Flight over the Trenches April 17, 1918..............................................................105Chap. 12 Squadron Honored – French Croix de Guerre May 5, 1918................................................119Chap. 13 A Nightingale Singing May 30, 1918.........................................................................127Chap. 14 Commanding Officer – "Pair - O - Dice" Squadron June 23, 1918........................................143Chap. 15 Sick Leave – Lt. Harold M. "Buck" Gallop Temporary C.O. July 26, 1918................................149Chap. 16 St. Mihiel Salient Campaign – Meuse – Argonne Offensive September 13, 1918.....................157Chap. 17 Third Observation Group Commander October 28, 1918.........................................................179Chap. 18 Tails Up and Flying – In Any Weather November 4, 1918................................................187Chap. 19 Fokker Bend –Citations for the Men Thanksgiving Day 1918.............................................199Chap. 20 U. .S. Air Service Staff – Action Summaries December 7, 1918.........................................211Epilogue.............................................................................................................227Glossary.............................................................................................................237Appendix A – Family Profiles...................................................................................241B – Military Profiles..........................................................................................249C – Military Airplanes.........................................................................................263D – Happy Landings Essay.......................................................................................269E – Decorations and Citations..................................................................................277Bibliography.........................................................................................................283About the Author.....................................................................................................287

Chapter One

(on Hotel stationary)

The Hotel St. Anthony San Antonio, Texas

First Aero Squadron Columbus, New Mexico April 26, 1917

My dear Mrs. Robinson,

I have intended to drop you a line before this, but honestly I've been so darn busy, I haven't had a chance. Of course, on the train I had all the time in the world, but the train rolled and pitched like a ship at sea, and my few experiments on postal cards were too much of a scrawl.

It's been just a week since I left you all, and it seems like a hundred years. My, how I hated to leave you all, and you can imagine how hard it was to leave the family at home. Father and Mother were just great, cheery and happy as could be on the surface, but I could see what a battle was going on under it all. Believe me, we fellows haven't half the worry and anxiety that people at home have to go through.

Buck and Maxine met me last night at the station, and it was certainly good to see them. I've just come back from reporting to Major Dodd, and now I am waiting for Buck to come for me in a car to take me out to camp.

I've got several other letters to write, so I must stop. This letter is meant for all of you, and takes my thanks to you for everything you all did for me to make my stay in Newport News such a happy one. I'll never be able to thank you enough for allowing me to make your home my home in so many ways. Cordially yours, Billy

Editor's Note:

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Robinson (Perle) opened their home in Newport News, Virginia to young student pilots at the Curtiss Aeronautical Station.

It was more than a Bed and Breakfast; it was a home away from home. Mrs. Robinson, (Perle), and her children, Ellen, Julia and others became Billy's extended family. Perle offered gracious southern hospitality and was affectionately called "Mother" Robinson by the young airmen. They made lasting friendships.

During his busy days with mounting responsibilities Billy always included the Robinsons in his correspondence. He never forgot the good times he had at their home and expressed his appreciation with affection for their friendship and prayers.

Headquarters First Aero Squadron, Signal Corps Columbus, New Mexico May 27, 1917

Dear Family,

Your last Bulletin came just before we got our orders at San Antonio to join the First Aero Squadron here in Columbus "At Once" and prepare for foreign service. I was certainly glad to hear about all the different members of the family and about the trip to Princeton under military escort. Also, about the sock factory. Gee! I'll bet nobody in the whole United States Army has a pair of socks like the ones I received from Aunt Ray a few days ago. They are simply wonderful and I will appreciate them over on the other side, where they say good heavy socks are at a premium.

Everything is in first-class shape with me down here. Four of us at San Antonio received orders Tuesday to report here at once and here we are. We left San Antonio about 8:00 P.M. and arrived at El Paso the next day a little after five. That evening after a good meal at the Hotel Sheldon (sounds like Atlantic City) we wandered around town a bit and then wrote letters. The following day a friend of Buck Gallop's took us all over the place and the surrounding country and we saw everything that was to be seen. El Paso is quite a place.

We left El Paso at 2:50 P.M. and arrived here in...