The Organization of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force on 11 November 1918, represents its maximum strength in World War I.

Units of the Air Service are listed as assigned to the order of battle for that date, which was that of the Armistice with Germany.

[1] The First Army Air Service was activated 26 August 1918, with Col. Benjamin Foulois named chief over Col. Billy Mitchell.

Ultimately fourteen airplane and seven balloon groups were formed to support the operations of two field armies and five corps.

Two flexible "observation wings" were created to coordinate the reconnaissance activities of the five corps air services.

On 15 January 1918, Colonel William Mitchell was appointed Chief of the Air Service, I Corps, First Army.

The 85th, 141st, 168th, 258th, 278th, and 354th Aero Squadrons were transferred to Third Army, with the remainder of its organizations to report to the Services of Supply 1st Air Depot to turn in their equipment.

After being processed at Colombey, personnel were assigned to the commanding general, Services of Supply, and sent to one of several staging depots in France where they awaited transport back to the United States and subsequent return to civilian life.

[14] On 15 April 1919, the First and Second Army Air Services in France closed down, and the remainder of their personnel were returned to the United States.

[15][16] On 15 May 1919, the Air Service was ordered to demobilize all of its flying units, which reported to the 1st Air Depot, Colombey-les-Belles Aerodrome, France for subsequent transfer to the Services of Supply for processing back to the United States from Channel ports of Embarkation in France.

The remaining Air Service units were consolidated at Coblenz, with the other facilities in the Rhineland closed and dismantled.

All foreign aircraft were returned to the French and British governments and personnel were demobilized in the United States by the end of July 1919.

[17] The Third Army Air Service officially was demobilized on 2 July 1919,[15] and the American Forces Germany (AFG) took over the occupation duties in the Rhineland.

[19] On 24 January 1923, the last American forces departed from Germany, leaving Coblenz to the French, formally ending the United States involvement in World War I.

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