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ST. MIHIEL, September 12-15.

With the organization of the First Army, on August 10th, began the preparations for the St. Mihiel offensive, the first all-American large scale offensive. On August 26th, the Headquarters of the First Army Air Service Commander was established at Ligny-en-Barrois and under his control there was gathered for this battle the largest concentration of air force ever collected by any adversary in the world, and all under American command. The total airplanes available, French British and American, were about 1500. The French aerial division alone comprised over 500 airplanes (300 pursuit and 200 day bombardment). There were in all the following organizations under American command: 

9 American Corps Observation Squadrons, 3 American Observation Squadrons, 12 American Pursuit Squadrons, 3 American Day Bombardment Squadrons, 15 American Balloon Companies. 

8 British Night Bombardment Squadrons, 3 French Corps Observation Squadrons, 4 French Army Artillery Squadrons, 12 French Pursuit Squadrons, 12 French Day Bombardment Squadrons, 6 French Balloon Companies. The two