When, in April 1917, the United States
declared war on Germany, the Air Service of the
American Army, then called the Aviation
Section, Signal Corps, had a strength only 65
officers and about 1,100 men. It
possessed about 200 training aircraft, but not a single
one of a type fit for service on the
actual battle front nor were any airplanes of this type being manufactured in the United
States.
There was no existing foundation of practical experience upon which could
be based plans for the development of an overseas
force and for the placing of an aerial
army in the air. Seventeen months later, on November 11,
1918, in the Air Service, American
Expeditionary Forces there were 7,738 officers and
70,769 men.
December 1918 Col. Edgar S. Gorrell
AEF
Asst. Chief of Staff to Maj. General Mason M. Patrick, Chief of Air Service AEF
