AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST
WORLD WAR ERA
138th Aero Sqn. USAS
Formed at Kelly
field, Texas on 28 September 1917, the 138th Aero Sqn arrived in Scotland
during March 1918 for further training. They then went overseas to France
on 18 August equipped with the Sopwith Camel. During September experienced
pilots began to arrive, however these were trained on the SPAD, not the
Camel and it wasn't until 28 October that the 138th was declared operational.
In the postwar period
they, along wth the rest of the FIFTH PURSUIT GROUP - the 41st, 141st
and 638th Aero Sqns - formed part of the army of occupation and were based
at Coblenz. Ultimately returned to the USA and disbanded in September
1919.
The emblem of the
138th was the "Charging Ram" within the 'V' signifying the FIFTH
PURSUIT GROUP.

SPAD VII S.11421
Lt Jones
March 1919
Source: C&C(INT) 25/4
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SPAD XIII S.16546
Major Kirby
April 1919
Source: OTF 14/3
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