On July 13, 1918, the first Marine aviation force, consisting of Squadrons A, B, C, and Headquarters Company, left Miami, Fla., and embarked on board the De Kalb at New York City for France, July 18, 1918. This organization consisted of 107 officers and 654 enlisted men, and when Squadron D joined in October, 1918, it consisted of 149 officers and 842 enlisted men. On July 30, 1918, the Day Wing disembarked at Brest, France, and proceeded to its aerodromes between Calais and Dunkirk, where they established camp and prepared the aerodromes for use. The personnel of the Day Wing was completely organized and ready for service two weeks after their arrival in France. Part of the planes and equipment of this organization arrived at Pauillac, France, before the organization reached France on July 30, 1918. On September 28, 1918, one plane was delivered to the Marine Day Wing. On October 5, 1918, Squadron D of the Day Wing, consisting of 42 officers and 188 enlisted men, arrived at Le Franc aerodrome, completing the four squadrons of the Day Wing. During the month of October additional planes were delivered to the Day Wing.
In order to prevent the personnel, who were completely trained and ready for action when they reached the front, August 2, 1918, from getting badly out of practice, the commanding officer, Day Wing, requested permission from the British aviation forces in the vicinity to be allowed to assign certain Marine pilots to operate with their squadrons until the Marine planes were delivered. As many Marine pilots as could be accommodated were operating with British squadrons until the end of the war, and were highly complimented by the British officers. The Day Wing, carried out 14 independent raids far behind the enemy lines, did considerable damage, and brought back valuable information. The organization participated actively and creditably in both offensives on the Flanders front. It was learned after the armistice that one raid resulted in the death of 60 enemy officers and 300 enlisted men. A feat worthy of mention was performed by Marine Corps pilots. A French regiment was cut off by the enemy near Stadenburg. It was decided to attempt to feed them by aeroplane. Marine Corps pilots loaded up with food and flew low over this isolated regiment and successfully dropped 2,600 pounds of food to them in the face of heavy fire from artillery, machine guns, and rifles. This process was continued for two days until the regiment was extricated. The number of enemy planes brought down by Marine pilots, bombs dropped, food dropped, and other facts of a statistical nature are given elsewhere. Three pilots were killed or died of wounds received in action, two of them being shot down over the enemy’s lines.
Maj. Alfred A. Cunningham commanded the Day Wing from the date of its organization to December 7, 1918, except the period August 1 to 7, 1918, during which time Maj. Roy D. Geiger was in command.
While in Europe the Marine fliers served with Squadrons 213 (pursuit squadron), 217, and 218 (bombing squadrons), Royal Flying Corps of England; and with pursuit, observation, and bombing squadrons of the French Flying Corps.
In February, 1918, the Marine aviation section of 8 officers and 40 enlisted men was organized and stationed at the naval air station, Miami, Fla. The personnel of this section was later increased and served at that station throughout the war, taking over the deep-sea scouting of that station. Capt. Thomas R. Shearer was in command during the entire time.
STRENGTH AT BEGINNING AND END OF WAR.
The strength of Marine aviation on April 6, 1917, and on November 11, 1918, was as follows:
| APRIL 6, 1917. | |
| Commissioned officers | 4 |
| Warrant officer | 1 |
| Enlisted men | 30 |
| Total | 35 |
| NOVEMBER 11, 1918. | |
| Commissioned officers | 250 |
| Warrant officers | 32 |
| Enlisted men | 2,180 |
| Total | 2,462 |