page_title: 90th Fighter Squadron
section_title: World War I
hierarchical_section_title: 90th Fighter Squadron / History / World War I
caption_attribution_description: English: 90th Aero Squadron - Emblem
context_page_description: The 90th Fighter Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 3d Operations Group, 3d Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Pacific Air Forces. The squadron is equipped with the F-22 Raptor fighter.
  The 90 FS is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized as the 90th Aero Squadron on 20 August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a Corps observation squadron.
  During World War II, the unit earned the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Presidential Unit Citation for its services in the Pacific Theater of Operations as part of Fifth Air Force. During the Cold War the squadron fought in the Korean War and Vietnam War.
context_section_description: The 90th Fighter Squadron origins begin with Special Order 104, Headquarters Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, on 25 September 1917. The men in it were largely from two detachments; one from Vancouver Barracks, Washington, which arrived at Kelly Field on 18 August; another from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, which arrived on 25 August. Both of these detachments had been held from the date of their arrival until 25 September under Recruit Camp Headquarters as a Provisional Squadron.
  The first few months of its existence were consumed by the necessary training to prepare the men for operations in France during World War I.  On 30 September, the squadron left Kelly Field for the Aviation Concentration Center, Camp Mills, Garden City, New York,
  Long Island, where it arrived five days later. On the night of 5 October the Squadron detrained, and early next morning hiked out to Field No. 2 of the Aviation Concentration Center (Hazelhurst Field), where they were quartered with the Headquarters of the First Provisional Wing in Barracks No. 5. Here they stayed for several weeks performing guard duty and fatigue work, and carrying on the work of organization, equipment and preparation for overseas duty.
  On 26 October, orders were received to pack up equipment and to prepare for immediate overseas departure. The following day the Squadron was moved to Pier 54, New York Harbor,
  and boarded the SS Orduña.  The crossing of the Atlantic was uneventful, and on 10 November the Orduna moved into the dock at Liverpool, England.
  On 12 November 1917, the men of the 90th arrived at Le Havre, France.  Boarding the famous "Hommes 40, Chevaux 8" railroad box cars (maximum capacity of 40 men or eight horses,) they were shipped to Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome for what they thought would be immediate deployment to the front.  But, to their great disappointment, they were given the assignment of road and barracks construction work, building the large 1st Air Depot and staging area which would eventually process and equip a large number of Americans that would arrive in France during 1918.
  After seven months at Colombey, the 90th Aero Squadron was designed as a Corps Observation squadron, being assigned to the III Corps Observation Group on 11 June 1918.  Two days later it reached what was called the "Zone of Advance" (combat area) at Ourches Aerodrome.   The squadron's first aircraft were the Sopwith 1½ Strutter ground attack aircraft.  At Ourches, the 90th and other squadrons were engaged in combat operations, both in aerial combat and aerial reconnaissance photography. It took part in operations in the Toul Sector, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the first and second Meuse-Argonne Offensives.   Later, the squadron upgraded to Salmson 2-A2s SPAD Xis, and Breguet BR-14 observation aircraft. Due to ever-present low clouds and rain, the flyers were forced to drop dangerously close to the ground to carry out their missions, usually in the worst conditions.
  The 90th Aero Squadron carried out many reconnaissances,  engaged in 23 combats and relieved official confirmation for 7 aerial victories.   The group's lucky "Seven Up" emblem of red dice with white dots reading "7" no matter which way it was tallied, proved prophetic, for they suffered 3 casualties, consisting of 2 killed and 1 wounded.  In September 1918, it participated in the final allied offensives.  The 90th earned a positive reputation for its ground attack missions during its continuous participation in the air offensive over Saint-Mihiel.  Its first commander, First Lieutenant William G. Schauffler, designed the 90th's Pair o' Dice emblem displaying natural sevens during this campaign.
  Following the Armistice with Germany on 11 November 1918, little flying was done, most
  of the pilots and observers being absent on leave or returning to the States.  On 15 January 1919 the squadron's planes were turned in to the 1st Air Depot, Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome, and there, practically all of the pilots and observers were detached from the Squadron.
  At Colombey, very comfortable quarters were assigned and t
caption: 90th Aero Squadron "Lucky 7 dice emblem"
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