Lt. "Billy" Schauffler, pilot, First Aero Squadron, is writing this story. His letters add a fascinating human perspective to historic events. Young men of the era, Billy among them, eagerly joined the "Great Adventure" in the air over the Western Front. It was not all flying and fighting. He writes of French hospitality, fine wine and knee-deep mud and prays on the eve of battle for the safety of his men and the day when the sky will be silent and nightingales sing.
Major "Billy" Mitchell and civilian "Billy" Schauffler were both learning to fly in 1916 at the Curtiss Aeronautical Station, Newport News, Virginia. Student pilot "Billy" Schauffler badgered student pilot "Billy" Mitchell about getting into military flying. Captain Thomas Milling, a fellow student pilot, told Schauffler to write a letter of application which he would carry to Army Headquarters in Washington, D. C.
Billy's letter writing saga began.
The Army fashioned an application form based on Billy's letter and Milling suggested that all five civilian student pilots fill them in. They did. And within a month they were in the Army.
Lt. Schauffler tells of joining America's only operational "Air Force" equipped with eight underpowered Curtiss "Jenny" JN-3, biplanes on the Mexican border.
In France he writes with humor about flying obsolete "hand-me-down" French aircraft. He tells of Squadron camaraderie, "La vie en Escadrille." A squadron visitor wrote, "The aviator at the front regards life in a lighter vein. When it is party time their high jinks have the elements of a Wild West Show. At mealtime it is a banquet without pretty girls."
Behind the lines he delivered the first airmail to Army Divisions scattered across France. On the battle line he describes hedge-hopping, guns blazing, across no-man's-land and enduring the muzzle blast of friendly artillery to deliver messages.
Billy was a pioneer pilot in the development of aerial reconnaissance. His letters, often written within minutes after returning from battle, stir the imagination. As he describes attacks we find meaning in the motto, "Beware of the Hun in the Sun." You are there.
First Over the Front
By WILLIAM G. SCHAUFFLER, JR.AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Stan Walsh
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4670-2641-3Contents
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
Ordered to Active Duty (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...
