page_title: III Corps Observation Group
section_title: First Army Air Service
hierarchical_section_title: III Corps Observation Group / History / First Army Air Service
caption_attribution_description: English: III Corps Observation Group - Staff during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Souilly Aerodrome, France, October 1918.
context_page_description: The III Corps Observation Group was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I as part of the Air Service, First United States Army. It was demobilized on 12 May 1919. There is no modern United States Air Force unit that shares its lineage and history.
context_section_description: The III Corps Observation Group was organized on 20 September 1918 by the First Army Air Service at Souilly Aerodrome, France.  It was formed after the St. Mihiel Offensive and for the purpose of operations in the forthcoming Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Its units consisted of a Headquarters Squadron, the 90th Aero Squadron, the 88th Aero Squadron, the Aéronautique Militaire N.284 Escadrille, the N.205 Escadrille, Detachment 10/13/18, and the 199th Park Squadron for logistics and transportation support.
  The first efforts of the Group were directed towards organization and preparation for combat operations in the coming offensive.  To this end, the 88th and 90th were designated as Corps Observation Squadrons whose duty it would be to make artillery adjustments, to perform photographic missions of the Corps front, to make long distance reconnaissances and support the 90th and 28th French Infantry together with Divisional work.   The 205th French Squadron did all Corps artillery adjustments requested. The divisions the Group for which work was done in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive were the 33d, 80th, 5th, 90th, 29th and 75th of First Army.   The 88th was assigned to Corps Headquarters, the 90th for the Right and Left Divisions, with the French units being assigned to Corps Artillery and the Center division in the offensive.
  The 88th was required to keep an airplane constantly on reconnaissance patrol from dawn to dusk each day.  This plane reported to the III Corps Commander, keeping him informed by wireless messages, and weighted messages from time to time with respect to the road movement of the enemy, general aspect of the sector, information on friendly and enemy troops, artillery and machine gun activity on each side and other important information for his attention.  Also, information of particular interest to divisions would be reported to them.
  The mission of the 90th was to principally keep the divisional commander informed of the location of his own troops.  The aircraft were also, when deemed appropriate communicate directly with Brigade Commanders, with the brigades establishing suitable message dropping locations along their line of march.  The greatest attention by the Brigades were the manipulation of panels so the air service could render effective aid when called for.   Also, the squadron was tasked to work with divisional artillery through squadron liaison officers.
  During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the Group Headquarters worked night and day directing the operations, coordinating the work, and suggesting and sending out missions carried out by the squadrons, which returned with valuable and complete information.  The progress of the attack was followed the line taken at intervals during each day of the attack.
  In the first phase of the Offensive, in the Argonne-Meuse sector took place at Souilly, beginning the night of 26 October and continuing until 29 October when Headquarters and the squadrons moved to Bethelainville Aerodrome.  The Group was well equipped at the beginning of operations with excellent and capable Salmson 2A2 aircraft and outstanding personnel.  Many of the planes were damaged during the attack due to enemy fire and the engines were constantly overworked.  Towards the end of the offensive, the activity and aggressiveness of enemy aviation increased.  A squadron with the planes painted red came into the sector on 15 October.  This squadron was most aggressive and was said to be Richtofen's "Old Circus".
  While engaged in combat operations, the Group also operated Infantry liaison schools without interference with work over the lines while at Souilly.  Two infantry different detachments of 500 men, with about 50 non-commissioned officers and thirty-two commissioned officers came to the airfield, and were given a 5-day course in work with airplanes.
  The III Corps Observation Group continued operations at Bethelainville until 11 November, at which time hostilities were suspended The Group had 53 days of combat operations, with a total of 1,146 sorties and a total of 1,111 combat hours and 3 minu
caption: III Corps Observation Group - Staff during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Souilly Aerodrome, France, October 1918
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