1910s AD

Air Force Journal of Logistics, Fall, 2004 by Roger G. Miller

Shipping problems handicapped the program from the beginning, however, and only 3,931 mechanics had reached England by 1 March 1918, the date by which all 15,000 were supposed to be on hand. Then, the German spring offensive forced Allied and American leaders to revise the shipping schedules in favor of ground troops, further delaying the arrival of trainees. (28) Shortages of shipping also interrupted the transport of construction personnel. As a result, the planned total of 15,000 men in training was not reached until August. Despite such problems, however, the British mechanics training program made an absolutely vital contribution to the development of the Air Service, AEF capability in France. As of 30 May, the Air Service had 73 flying squadrons, 18 repair squadrons, and 3 supply squadrons, mostly at British flying training fields. Almost all the men in the flying squadrons had some experience with Curtiss JN-4 Jennies and their OX-5 engines at American training fields. In England, they gained valuable knowledge on a wide variety of combat engines and airframes similar to those they would service in France. (29)

An officer who visited 15 training centers in England observed American mechanics doing "every class of skilled work required in connection with an aerodrome." (30) Inspectors who reviewed the program concluded that the Americans were more technical-minded than their British counterparts and had greater enthusiasm and higher morale--hardly surprising given that Britain was in its fourth year of seemingly unending bloodshed. Early shortages of training equipment, facilities, and experienced instructors took time to solve but were overcome. One problem proved impossible to resolve. Americans disliked English food. Most, one could say with some accuracy, would walk a mile for American canned monkey meat rather than indulge in English cuisine. And when it came to tea, the word despised suggests itself. Then, as now, kippers were hardly an American breakfast staple, and the US Army ran on coffee. Of greater significance, however, both British and American officials had a tendency to lose sight of the fact that training was the primary goal of the program. Too many wanted to treat the men as permanent replacements for British mechanics. Additionally, the dispersal of units across England made the program difficult to manage and forced the Air Service to establish an organization to track progress. Adoption of a reasonably standardized 3-month training scheme aided in this effort, as well. In June 1918, the Air Service also developed a standard squadron organization for the units in England, which through the addition or subtraction of 10 percent of its people could be modified into any type of flying squadron required. Still, it might have been more efficient and less disruptive to manage the program by individuals rather than squadrons. Requests could have gone to England by specialty. Officials in London then would have filled those requests by selecting the best trained personnel from the locations where they could best be spared. These then would be sent to St Maixent in France where the aero squadrons were organized and equipped. (31)