over Cologne and other parts of the Rhineland occupied by Third Army. In addition, the squadron was able to perform test flights on surrendered German aircraft. Flights of the Fokker D.VII, Pfalz D.XII, Halberstadts and Rumpler aircraft were made and evaluations were made. On 13 June 1919, the squadron first went to the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome, to turn in all of its supplies and equipment and was relieved from duty with the AEF. The squadron's planes were delivered to the Air Service Production Center No. 2. at Romorantin Aerodrome. It then moved to a staging camp in France for the return crossing of the Atlantic back to the United States. World War I honors Combat sectors and campaigns Notable personnel BG Arthur Edmund Easterbrook, DSC (2x), Air Ace, 5 aerial victories Capt. Byrne V. Baucom, DSC (2x), 3 aerial victories Lt. A. J. Coyle, SSC Lt. Fred W. Clark, SSC Lt. James W. Corley, SSC Lt. Kenneth P. Culbert, SSC Lt. Fred E. D'Amour, SSC Lt. Ralph E. De Castro, DSC Lt. Col. Townsend F. Dodd, DSM Lt. Arthur W. Duckstein, DSC, 1 aerial victory Lt. William Portwood Erwin, DSC (2x), Air Ace, 8 aerial victories Lt. Edward Groteclose, Jr., SSC Lt. Charles A. Henry, SSC Lt. John H. Michener, DSC Lt. James M. Richardson, DSC, 4 aerial victories Lt. Stephen W. Thompson, First US military victory, Croix de Guerre with Palm Lt. E. G. Wold, SSC James Council Wooten, SSC DSC: Distinguished Service Cross; DSM: Distinguished Service Medal; SSC: Silver Star Citation Inter-War era Upon its return to the United States, the 1st Aero Squadron was based first at Park Field, Tennessee, on 4 August 1919, and then at Mitchel Field, New York, on 10 October 1919, where it remained until 1940. Assigned as a component of the Air Service's 1st Army Observation Group (briefly the 7th Observation Group in 1921) from 1 October 1919, to 30 August 1921, the 1st Aero Squadron was redesignated the 1st Squadron (Observation) on 14 March 1921. It was attached to the 1st Provisional Air Brigade from 1 May to 3 October 1921. This temporary unit, organized by Gen. William L. Mitchell, sank the German battleship Ostfriesland on 21 July in bombardment tests. The squadron functioned briefly as part of the 2nd Wing before being assigned to the Second Corps Area on 30 September 1921. The 1st Aero Squadron used