[4] IV Corps was transferred to the United States Second Army in October 1918 for a planned offensive drive on Metz which was cancelled due to the 1918 Armistice with Germany on 11 November.
[6] The 8th Aero Squadron was drawn from enlisted personnel of the 2d Company "I" Provisional aviation camp, Kelly Field, Texas.
[3] On 22 November, the squadron was ordered on board the RMS Carpathia, arriving at Liverpool, England, on 7 December, moving on to the American Rest Camp "Winnaldon", near Winchester.
In addition, owing to the short distance from the front, two weeks of intensive training was given to the pilots and observers, flying over enemy territory.
On 29 September, the entire IV Corps Group moved up to Croix de Metz Aerodrome, situated about two kilometers northeast of Toul, Meurthe et Moselle, France.
[3] On 8 October 1st Lt. Edward R. Moore and 1st Lt. Gardner P. Allen while on a photographic mission displayed extraordinary heroism for which they were later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
They logged over 900 combat hours on photographic/bombing missions in the Dayton-Wright DH-4, "Liberty Plane", with only one forced landing and four enemy aircraft kills credited.
Five days were consumed on the move to Bordeaux where, upon arrival, billets were assigned to officers and men in the small village of Fargues-Saint-Hilaire.
The squadron commander and his adjutant were assigned one of the largest chateaux in the village, splendidly furnished and equipped with billiard tables and a huge library.
On 20 April, the reign of terror of final preparation for return was completed and found the squadron on board the USS Pastores with the shores of La Belle, France, receding in the distance.
On 2 May 1919, the squadron debarked and moved by ferry and train to Camp Mills, Garden City, Long Island, and was once again deloused.
On 3 May the organization moved to Mitchell Field, Long Island, and the work of transferring the enlisted men to different cantonments for discharge commenced.
DSC: Distinguished Service Cross; SSC: Silver Star Citation; KIA: Killed in Action[9] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency