After training and instruction on assembling new aircraft, the 88th Aero Squadron was ordered to move to the Aviation Concentration Center, Camp Mills, Garden City, New York on 6 October.

Taking a train to the south coast at Southampton, the squadron crossed the English Channel and arrived at Le Havre, France on the 11th.

The school at Amanty was equipped with some obsolete French Dorand AR-1 aircraft, which were met with almost universal disapproval from the aviators that had trained on Nieuport 28s at Issoudun.

Its mission was primarily to keep the command informed by visual and photographic reconnaissance of the general situation within and behind enemy lines.

[1] On 28 May 1918 the squadron moved to Ourches Aerodrome, France, and the 88th was re-equipped with English Sopwith 1½ Strutter two-seater, Rhone rotary engine, 120-horsepower aircraft.

About the middle of June the squadron took part in the defense of Xivray still in the Toul sector and here got it first glimpse of actual warfare.

The main purpose of operations undertaken was a thorough reconnaissance and surveillance of the enemy opposite the Marne Sector in order to keep the command informed of movements and dispositions.

On 25 July, the squadron was assigned to the III Corps Observation Group and moved on 4 August to Ferme des Greves Aerodrome, France.

The squadron started operating on the day of its arrival, making reconnaissance missions over the Corps front and giving protection to French photographic aircraft.

[1] On 4 September the unit moved temporarily to Goussancourt Airdrome, only a few miles behind the front when the American infantry began their advance across the Vesle.

Here need for careful liaison and artillery adjustment flights was continual, with the squadron's service both intensive and strenuous.

It had fourteen planes available for service and stood sixteen pilots and eleven observers ready for duty.

Thus the squadron, just having experienced hard and constant fighting on the Vesle, was able to do its part on the new front to help wipe out the St. Mihiel salient.

The squadron beginning on 17 September, began preparatory missions to support the Argonne-Meuse operation flying from Pretz-en-Argonne.

The end of the month round it at Villers-la-Chevre Aerodrome, in northern France three miles or so from Longwy.

It was ordered to report to the 1st Air Depot at 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 the staging camp at Le Mans, France.

There, personnel awaited scheduling to report to one of the Base Ports in France for transport to the United States.

[6][10] Upon its return to the United States, the 88th moved to Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York and was assigned to the 2d Wing on 27 June 1919.

DSC: Distinguished Service Cross; SSC: Silver Star Citation; KIA: Killed in Action[13]

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency