1 - 11 November 1918
The last days of the war were evidently very exciting ones for the 12th. Details are scarce but four members were awarded the Silver Star for their actions on 1 November: 1Lt Clifford E. Gregory, 2Lt Frank Over Jr., 2Lt Maurice C. Owen and 1Lt William C. Thomas[1].
The very next day, November 2nd, 1st Lt Kenneth Holden and his observer 2nd Lt Clinton S. Breese were on an infantry contact mission when they were attacked by four Fokkers. Holden managed to escape the onslaught but knowing the importance of their mission, the crew turned back, attacked the formation sending one to the ground and finished the mission [1].
Deteriorating weather prevented flying after Nov 6th giving the men of the 12th some much needed rest [2].
At 11:00 A.M. on 11 November 1918, World War I was finished.The worst war humanity had ever experienced was finally over. Roughly 9 million soldiers were killed and 25 million wounded. An estimated 5 million civilians lost their lives in the conflict not to mention millions more displaced [3].
Nations around the globe celebrated the end of this horrific conflict.
Lt. Kennedy was in Paris as part of a panel investigating aircrew parachute systems when the Armistice was announced. He and his good friend Keith celebrated with the Parisians for two days straight. He described crowded streets, cheering crowds, guns booming and flags hanging everywhere. At night, for the fist time in four years, every light that could be found was lit to its fullest extent [4].
The 12th Aero Squadron was the second American observation squadron and the fourth American squadron to begin combat operations at the front. In eight months they moved eleven times flying in poor weather on muddy fields through hostile conditions. The 12th earned seven campaign ribbons and five aerial victories [5]. Fifty-two of the 12th's aircraft were lost or destroyed from forced landings, crashes or enemy action [4]. Eight of those were shot down behind enemy lines [4].
Of the 124 identified officers flying with the 12th, eight were killed in action, three killed in accidents, five captured and at least seven confirmed wounded in action [2].
Combat records for the 12th are incomplete, however, from 10 August to 11 November the 12th flew 503 combat sorties and fired 25,000 rounds at enemy troops [6]. The 12th built a reputation of excellence and dedication as evidenced by the sixteen Distinguished Service Crosses and fifteen Silver Stars awarded to her crews [1].
What should be said of the men of the 12th Aero Squadron?
May they ever be remembered for their selfless acts of courage and dedication to the cause of freedom. May they ever more be remembered as human for they were fathers, husbands and sons. All members of humanity eventually perish. It is not the length but how we choose to live our lives our existence. Let it be said of these men that they were fearless. Let it be said that they truly lived. I leave you with the words of the 12th's own Lt. Sigourney Thayer on this 100th anniversary of the Armistice.
The Dead
“I Feared the lonely dead, so old were they, -
Decrepit, tired beings, ghastly white,
With withered breasts and eyes devoid of sight,
Forever mute beneath the sodden clay;
I feared the lonely dead, and turned away
From thoughts of somber death and endless night;
Thus, through the dismal hours I longed for light
To drive my utter hopelessness away.
But now my nights are filled with flowered dreams
Of singing warriors, beautiful and young;
Strong men and boys within whose eyes there gleams
The triumph song of worlds unknown, unsung;
Grim death has vanished, leaving in its stead
The shining glory of the living dead.”
1Lt Sigourney Thayer, 12th Aero Squadron [7]
Campaigns
Lorraine
Ile-de-France
Champagne-Marne
Aisne-Marne
Champagne
St. Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne
Assigned Airfields
Ourches, France
Flin, France
Saints, France
Francheville, France
Moras Ferme France
May-en-Multien, France
Coincy, France
Chailly- en-Brie, France
Toul, France
Remicourt, France
Julvecourt, France
Aerial Victories
1Lt Dogan Arthur & 1Lt Howard Fleeson
3
1Lt John C. Miller & 1Lt Stephen W. Thompson
2
Capt Elmer Haslett (Unconfirmed)
1
1Lt Kenneth Holden (Unconfirmed)
1
KILLED IN ACTION
2nd Lt. Cyril M. Angel
14 May 1918
2nd Lt. William Key Bond Emerson
14 May 1918
Captain E. P. Hinds (Accident)
24 June 1918
1st Lt. A. J. Bradford
25 July 1918
1st Lt. Alfred N. Joerg
25 July 1918
2nd Lt. John Cooper Lumsden
28 July 1918
1st Lt. John C. Miller
28 July 1918
1st Lt. Alvin C. Goodale (Accident )
14 September 1918
1st Lt. Edwin Orr (Accident)
14 September 1918
1st Lt. Wistar Morris
29 September 1918
1st Lt. Sidney W. Beauclerk
29 October 1918
Prisoners of War
2nd Lt. Alfred B. Baker
28 July 1918
1st Lt. Cassius H. Styles
29 September 1918
1st Lt. Robert A. Patterson
29 October 1918
2nd Lt. John F. Foy
30 October 1918
1st Lt. Harold D. Muller
30 October 1918
Wounded in Action
1st Lt. Armin F. Herold
24 June 1918
2nd Lt. Samuel A. Bowman
4 October 1918
1st Lt. Ralph C. Keely
7 October 1918
2nd Lt. Herbert Souder Bean
19 October 1918
Distinguished Service Cross
Captain William Harrison Saunders
25 May 1918
1st Lt. Benjamin P. Harwood
5 July 1918
1st Lt. Edward Orr (Posthumous)
28 August 1918
1st Lt. Phil A. Henderson
28 August 1918
Captain Dogan H. Arthur
12 September 1918
2nd Lt. Howard T. Fleeson
12 September 1918
1st Lt. Robert C. Paradise
26 September 1918
1st Lt. Burdette S. Wright
26 September 1918
Captain Elmer R. Haslett
28 September 1918
2nd Lt. Samuel Bowman
4 October 1918
1st Lt. Justin P. Follette
15 October 1918
Captain Stephen H. Noyes
15 October 1918
Captain Dogan H. Arthur
18 & 30 October 1918
2nd Lt. Howard T. Fleeson
30 October 1918
2nd Lt. Clinton S. Breese
2 November 1918
1st Lt. Kenneth H. Holden
2 November 1918
Silver Star
Captain William Harrison Saunders
25 May 1918
1st Lt. Eugene E. Stuck
23 July 1918
2nd Lt. Clinton S. Breese
1918
1st Lt. Sigourney Thayer
13 September 1918
1st Lt. Leslie McClurg
13 September 1918
1st Lt. Cassius H. Styles
16 September 1918
1st Lt. Robert C. Paradise
24 September 1918
1st Lt. Burdette S. Wright
26 September 1918
1st Lt. Robert L. Davidson
17 October 1918
1st Lt. Leslie McClurg
18 October 1918
1st Lt. Robert L. Davisdson
18 October 1918
1st Lt. Clifford E. Gregory
23 Oct & 4 Nov 1918
2nd Lt. Frank Over Jr.
1 November 1918
2nd Lt. Maurice C. Owen
1 November 1918
1st Lt. William C. Thomas
1 November 1918
Commanders
Major L. G. Heffernan
2 June 1917
1st Lt George F. Hughes
18 Oct 1917 – 23 Jan 1918
Major Harry M. Brown
28 Jan 1918
Major Lewis H. Brereton
29 Mar 1918
Captain Stephen N. Noyes
1 July 1918
1st Lt Robert C. Paradise
25 Oct 1918
Captain Dogan H. Arthur
25 Feb 1919?
Major John C. Kennedy
No date
Major William Harrison Saunders (Unconfirmed)
No date
Citations
1. (2016). Retrieved from Hall of Valor: http://valor.militarytimes.com
2. Gorrell. (n.d.). Gorrell's History of the A.E.F. Air Service Section E. Vol 3. Squadron Histories.
3. Overview of World War I Digital History ID 2919. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2018, from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraid=12&smtid=1
4. (2018) The Wilbur D. Kennedy Collection/The Museum of Flight retrieved from https://mof.omeka.net/items/show/15758
5. AFHRA. (2015, November 11). USAF Squadron Fact Sheet 12th Reconnaissance Squadron. Retrieved from Air Force Historical Research Agency: http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=9796&page=1
6. James J. Sloan, "The 12th Aero Observation Squadron" American Historical Aviation Journal Spring 1965 p.47-52
7. Thayer, H. J. (2013, August). Wartime Pilot, Poet, Episcopal Minister and Theatrical Producer Sigourney Thayer Lived. Thayer Quarterly , 21(2).