At Mineola Field, instruction was given to the men in the maintenance of Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" aircraft and the Liberty V-12 engine which powered them.

Finally, on 20 January 1918, orders were issued for the squadron to proceed to the Port of Entry, Hoboken, New Jersey for service overseas.

Initially sailing for Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Tuscania waited there to form up in a convoy prior to the Atlantic crossing.

I had just finished supper and come onto 'B' Deck, at a point directly above the engine room when all of a sudden something struck the ship with a loud explosion.

The sea was now becoming rougher, causing the rescue ship to roll considerably and making the work of getting the men to safety on her decks very hazardous and difficult.

In the glare of one of the huge searchlights, I saw one lad struggling in the water, without a life preserver, attempting to catch a line which a British sailor was throwing to him.

He finally succeeded in catching hold of the rope, but his hands were evidently frozen and he slipped limply back into the water.

After several more unsuccessful attempts, he was fortunate enough to effect a half-hitch around his numbed body and he was hoisted to the deck of the destroyer as it pulled away.

During the progress of the rescue, two torpedoes were fired by the submarine, one grazing the stern of the British Destroyer, and the second missing only a few yards to the bow of the Tuscania.

The detachment of which I was a member was landed at Buncranne, Ireland, about 02:00 on 6 February, cold, desolate, but with an unbroken spirit and increasing hatred for the Kaiser..."[1] After the sinking, the 100th Aero Squadron was re-formed at Winchester, England.

The 100th was assigned to camp duties and remained at Delouze when the rest of the group moved out to Amanty Airdrome, on 7 September.

[1] The 100th Aero Squadron remained at Delouze until 30 October when a veteran officer-pilot, Captain Belmont P. Beverly, took command of the unit.

Orders were received for the squadron to report to the 1st Air Depot, Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome to turn in all of its supplies and equipment and was relieved from duty with the AEF.

[5] Personnel at Colombey were subsequently assigned to the commanding general, services of supply, and ordered to report to a staging camp in France for the return crossing of the Atlantic back to the United States.