Excerpts from 'A History of The 17th Aero Squadron'

Among my father's possesions was a copy of a tattered book telling the story of an American air squadron's in World War I in which my my grandfather, Jesse Frank Campbell served. Here are some excepts and chapter summaries:

A History of the 17th Aero Squadron

Frederick Mortimer Clapp
WW Norton, Chicago (xxx)
Copyright 1920, by Frederick Mortimer Clapp

Nil actum reputans si quid superesset agendum
December 1918


"...Here are their names and dates,
Set like a gateway over the days and ways
In which they left us, passing on to where
No chance dark finger of a meaner hour
Can lay its sully on their memory now."
--- The Conquerors


Chapter I - Organization and Training

On May 13, 1917, the 17th Aero Squadron came into being. It's entire personnel were volunteers, from thirty-five states of the Union, and were among the first to arrive at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.

Being the first to arrive, and as the air service was new, it was always the first to have "experiements" tried upon it. It was the first squadron sent to Canada to be trained by the British; the first squadron to be sent back to the fields near Fort Worth that were to be administered by British and American officers working together; the first completely trained squadron to be sent Overseas with its complete quota of pilots; the first squadron to be attached to British squadrons at the front (and therefore the first in the battle line); and the first squadron to be equipped by the British and brigaded with them, in active service, under their command.

The results of their unconquerable determination to do their best are shown in their record as a fighting unit for the period July 15-October 28, 1918. During fifty-one days on which we sent out offensive patrols over the lines, we destroyed and had confirmed fifty-four enemy machines and balloons and drove down out of control ten more, or in all a total of sixty-four. In other words, we destroyed or drove down 1.25 enemy aircraft for every fighting day of our active operations. For the same period we dropped from low altitudes, on hostile transport and infantry, 1,164 bombs and fired into them 31,806 rounds.

Chapter V - Combat Reports

#28 (page 73)
Pilots: Lieut L.A.Hamilton flying Sopwith Camel , D.1940
Lieut J.F. Campbell flying Sopwith Camel, D.6513
Date: August 24, 1918
Time: 2:10 p.m.
Locality: 57c.I.34
Duty: Low Bombing
Height: 1000 feet
Result: 1 kite balloon destroyed.
While on low bombing east of Bapaume in company with Lieut. Hamilton, we attacked an enemy balloon at about 1000 feet. I fired 150 rounds at close range and balloon burst into flames and went down. I saw Lieut. Hamilton firing all the way down at close range on it.
[Lieut. Hamilton did not return from patrol and was seen by Lieut. Campbell, as above, apparently out of control near the balloon.]
Sgd. J.F. Campbell
?
#42 (page 83)
#46 (page 85)
Pilot: Lieut J.F. Campbell flying Sopwith Camel, F.2146
Date: September 24, 1918
Time: 10:40 a.m.
Locality: 57c.K.27
Duty: Offensive Patrol
Height: 6000 feet
Result: 1 Fokker biplane driven out of control.
While on offensive patrol, at 13000 feet, about 10:40 a.m., I saw eight Fokkers diving, apparently on a lower flight. We followed, and I got on E.A's [enemy aircraft's] tail and followed him from about 8000 feet to 3000 firing about 125 rounds, at an average range of 50 yards. My last burst I saw go directly into the cockpit. He turned over on his back and went down in a slow flat spin still on his back. More E.A. prevented me from seeing him crash. This was practically over Havrincourt Village (57c.K.27).
Sgd J.F. Campbell
#52 (page 52)
Pilot: Lieut J.F. Campbell flying Sopwith Camel,F.2146
Date: September 27, 1918
Time: 5:35 p.m.
Locality: 57b.C.15
Duty: Offensive and Bombing Patrol
Height: 5000 to 2500 feet
Result: 1 Fokker biplane driven down out of control
While on O.P. at 5:35 p.m. at about 5000 feet, I saw an E.A. under clouds. I dived on him and followed him down to about 2500 feet, firing about 50 rounds; closest range about 75 yards. E.A. half-rolled and went down in a slow spin; did not follow him any lower formation of E.A. was above us, coming down.
Sgd. J.F. Campbell

Chapter VI - Report on Low Bombing and Machine Gun Attacks

#2 (page 99)
Lieut J.F Campbell Sopwith Camel, D.6513
Date: August 23, 1918
Locality: Martinpuich - Le barque and Courcellette - Bapaume roads
Sopwith Camel, D.6513
At 2 p.m. droppwd 4 bombs as above [on long transport, probably 25-30 horse-drawn vehicles] and shot 600 rounds into transport.

#5 (page 103)
Lieut J.F. Campbell Sopwith Camel, D.6513
Date: August 24, 1918
Sopwith Camel,D.6513
[same as Chapter V, #28]

#11 (page 108)
Lieut J.F. Campbell
Date: September 27, 1918
Sopwith Camel D.2146
Dropped bombs near Bourlon Wood.

#12 (page 108)
Lieut. J.F. Campbell
Date: September 27, 1918
Locality: Canal de l'Escaut at Marcoing
Sopwith Camel, D.2146
Dropped bombs on troops on approach to bridge over Canal de l'Escaut at Marcoing.

Bibliography

A History of the 17th Aero Squadron
[Garden City, New York, Country life press, c1920]
xi, 171 p. front., 9 pl. 25 cm.
Subjects:
    United States--Army--Aero squadron--17th, 1917-1918.
    European war, 1914-1918--Regimental histories--United States--Aero squadron--17th.
Call Number D570.17th.C6
LCCN 20016923


Camel drivers : the 17th Aero Squadron in World War I
Otis Lowell Reed and George Roland.
Atglen, PA : Schiffer Pub., c1996.
155 p. : ill., maps ; 29 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-147) and index.
Series:
    Schiffer military/aviation history
    Schiffer military history book
Subjects:
    World War, 1914-1918--Aerial operations, American.
    United States. Army Air Forces. Aero Squadron, 17th--Biography.
    Fighter pilots--United States--Biography.
Call Number D606 .R44 1996
LCCN 96067286
Dewey Decimal 940.4/4973
ISBN/ISSN 0764300717