The 94th was highly publicized in the American print media of the time, and its exploits "over there" were widely reported on the home front.

Eddie Rickenbacker was awarded almost every decoration attainable, including the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross.

Another squadron member, Raoul Lufbery, attained 17 victories before leaping to his death from a fiery Nieuport 28 aircraft in May 1918.

On 30 September 1917, the 94th was ordered to the Aviation Concentration Center at Mineola Field, Long Island for overseas service.

At the Concentration Center, the squadron received additional equipment and was further instructed in drills and in military traditions.

The next morning it boarded the steamship Huntscroft for Le Havre, France, and took up residence at British Rest Camp No.

The 94th remained at Le Havre until 18 November when it boarded a troop train and arrived in Paris, France that evening.

[3] However, the necessities of war meant the squadron was needed in the "Zone of Advance" (the Western Front), for combat duties as soon as possible.

A continual rain meant that flying was impossible upon arrival, however, the aircraft were hangared and readied for combat patrols.

Some familiarization flights were flown from Epiez, before the 94th Aero Squadron was ordered to proceed to Croix de Metz Aerodrome, near Toul in the new American Sector of the line on 7 April.

It was the first trained and organized American pursuit squadron to be stationed at the front and see active combat service.

[3] At Toul, active combat patrols and alerts immediately commenced, over the sector from Saint-Mihiel to Pont a Mousson.

During the latter part of August, the front line had receded to such a distance that the Coincy Aerodrome, built by the French "Aeronautique Militaire" earlier in 1918 and lost to the German offensive, was used as an auxiliary landing field.

However, with the Germans retreating, the 1st Pursuit Group was given a short period of repose until arrangements could be made to move to a new sector.

On 20 November, the squadron was transferred to the Third Army Air Service, staying at the Noers aerodrome, built by the Germans, until the last days of December, then moved to Koblenz, arriving on the 31st, to take part in the Occupation forces.

[3][11] 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 a staging camp at Le Mans on 5 May where it waited for a brief period before proceeding to its port of embarkation in France.

[3] The squadron returned home in the spring of 1919, and after several moves, the 94th settled with the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan, in July 1922.

DSC: Distinguished Service Cross; SSC: Silver Star Citation; KIA: Killed in Action[16] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency