Viewing page 82 of 236

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

HEADQUARTERS, AIR SERVICE, FIRST ARMY.
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES.

France, October 11th, 1918.

COMPARISON OF FRENCH AND AMERICAN AERIAL OPERATIONS
SEPTEMBER 18TH TO 23RD, 1918 INCLUSIVE.

1. During the twelve days, September 12th to 23rd, 1918 inclusive, the aerial forces acting under the command of the Chief of Air Service, First American Army consisted of the following French organizations: Division Aerienne; Air Service, 2nd Colonial Corps; Villome Group; Group de Combat No. 16 and Army Artillery Observation Group. The American Air Service engaged, consisted of the First Pursuit Wing (which includes the 1st Day Bombardment Group), the First Pursuit Group, the First Army Observation Group and the Corps Observation Wing (which included the 1st, 4th and 5th Corps during the entire period and the 3rd Corps from September 20th on).

2. For the purpose of comparison, the following terms are used; "plane days", which represents the sum of the number of planes for the twelve days covered. This sum is obtained by adding the number of planes on the 12th to the number of planes on the 13th and so on to the 23rd inclusive. The term "sortie" is used to designate one plane that leaves the field on a mission. If ten planes leave to go on the same mission, it is listed as 10 "sorties".

3. Tabulation of planes and sorties:
[[8 columned table]]
|   |Total on Hand. "Plane Days"| Total Available "Plane Days"| Daily Average Planes on Hand.| Daily Average Planes Available| Daily Percentage Available| Total Number of Sorties| Daily Average Sorties|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | 6724 | 4357 | 560 | 363 | 65.0 | 3686 | 307 | 
| French | 8816 | 6212 | 735 | 517 | 70.0 | 2501 | 206 | 

4. For the twelve days, September 12th to 23rd inclusive, the French aviation with American First Army had a total on hand of 8818 "plane days".  The Americans had a total on hand of 6724 "plane days".  The French total on hand "plane days" was 31% more than the American. The French made a total of only 68% as many sorties than were made by the French. 

5. When compared on the basis of the sorties made its percentages of "on hand plane days' the Americans did 93% more work with every plane on hand than was done by the French. 

6. RECAPITULATION
For every plane in possession of the Americans, the Americans performed nearly twice (193%) as much work as was done by the French.



Transcription Notes:
made minor edits, should be good to complete