[8] The 147th Aero Squadron began as a widely scattered group of men, mostly in Texas who arrived at Kelly Field during the summer of 1917 where they spent time on learning the rudiments of soldiering.

Once formed, they were ordered to proceed to Everman Field (#2), Camp Taliaferro, Texas, near Fort Worth.

At Everman Field, the men received a most practical and excellent training in the hands of the Canadian Royal Flying Corps.

Upon completion of the training, the 147th Aero Squadron consisted of 30 flying officers and 193 men, with five more pilots to follow.

On 14 February 1918, the squadron entrained at Hicks Field, and was bound for Garden City, New York for overseas travel.

That afternoon, the men boarded the "Northwestern Miller", which left the harbor in a thick fog, also carrying horses and cattle.

On the second night the boat crossed to the French coast however the fog prevented entrance into Le Havre harbor.

On 31 March, the flying officers were sent to Issoudun Aerodrome, the US Third Aviation Instruction Center, for a course of training on the Nieuport 28 aircraft the squadron was to be assigned.

[6] The end of April saw the squadron depart Tours and move to Epiez Aerodrome, about 25 miles from the Toul lines.

Training continued with practice formations and an occasional alert when enemy aircraft were seen or rumored to be in the vicinity.

On 31 May, the squadron moved to the Croix de Metz Aerodrome, near Toul and formal combat operations over the lines commenced.

An hour before dawn two Flights of squadron aircraft took off to meet some of our Salmson 2 photographic planes returning from the vicinity of Metz.

Lt. Brotherton was also lost, then managed to find the Rhine River landed in our line trenches when he ran out of petrol.

Lt. Siemonds motor gave trouble and was also force to withdraw and make an emergency landing while Lt Perry attacked and downed the one he engaged.

Lt. Maxwell O. Perry was lost when ten of the 147th flew well into enemy territory chasing their aircraft and he failed to return.

Lt Brotheron shot down an enemy balloon and Simonds received the Croix de Guerre for strafing German troops and ground positions behind their lines.

At the end of 1 August Pursuit Group became a part of First Army and moved to Rembercourt Aerodrome, and everyone was anxious to get into this new push hoping it would be the last show.

During the beginning of the month, the squadron did patrols just over the Airdrome, however on 4 September the 137th flew into enemy territory looking for German aircraft but found none to report.

On the 16th significant contact was made with an enemy two-seat Rumpler observation plane, it was attacked and shot down.

On 10 October Lt. White shot down a Hannover CL in conjunction with Lt. Porter and another pilot shortly past noon.

He had already become the 147th Aero Squadron's leading ace and had orders to return to the United States when he flew this last sortie.

On 12 December 1918 orders were received from First Army 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.

Personnel at Colombey were subsequently assigned to the commanding general, services of supply, and ordered to report to one of several staging camps in France.

There, personnel awaited scheduling to report to one of the base ports in France for transport to the United States and subsequent demobilization.

[10] On 8 March 1919, the 147th Aero Squadron boarded a troop ship and sailed for New York Harbor, arriving on the 18th.

It proceeded to Camp Mills, Long Island, on 19 March where the personnel of the squadron were demobilized and returned to civilian life.

DSC: Distinguished Service Cross; SSC: Silver Star Citation; CdG: Croix de Guerre (France); KIA: Killed in Action[13] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency