12th Company - 2nd Regiment, Air Service Mechanics

history of the twelfth company 2nd regiment, air service mechanics

History submitted and signed by Charles P. Ryderb, 1st Lieut. Inf. U.S.A. Commanding Co.  

Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia

This company was formed at Camp Hancock, Augusta Ga., on January 26, 1918.  Capt. Charles W. Morrison, A.S. was assigned to Command the Company per R.S.O. No. 9, cs.  Capt. Clarence E. Coleman, A.S., 1st Lieut. Harry C. Shoemaker, A.S., and 2nd Lieut. Edgar L. Rook, A.S., were temporarily attached to assist Capt. Morrison in organizing and equipping the company.  On February 1st, 1918, 1st Lieut. Joesph L. Carll, A.S., and 2nd Lieut. Charles O. Priddly, A.S. were assigned to and joined company per R.S.O. No. 14, c.s.168 enlisted men wore assigned to the company from casuals at this station.  During its stay in Camp Hancock, the company was quartered in tents.  A number of cases of measles and mumps developed during our stay here.  Most of the time at this camp was spent in clothing and equipping the command and in giving them instruction in close order drill, etc.  The company left Camp Hancock, Ga. by train on February 17th, 1918, at 2P.M. Strength of Command, 3 officers and 168 enlisted men.

Camp Merritt, New Jersey

Arrived at Camp Merritt, N.J. on February 19, 1918 at 10 A.M., moved into wooden barracks and performed the usual camp duties, also completed preparations as to equipment, etc. for overseas service.  The barracks at this station was very comfortable.  Left Camp Merritt, N.J. on March 3, 1918, by train.  On February 27th, 1918, 1st Lieut. Jos. L. Carll was detailed on detached service with Overseas Casuals per S.O. No. 51, Hdq. Camp Merritt, N.J., dated February 24, 1918, and was left at this station.  Strength of command, 2 officers and 163 enlisted men.

Hoboken, New Jersey

Arrived at Hoboken, N.J., March 3rd, 1918 at 10 A.M. and embarked on "F" Deck, aft, U.S.A.T. Leviathan (formaly German Liner "Vaterland").  The Leviathan left Hoboken on March 4th, 1918 at 10 A.M.

Southampton, England

Arrived Southampton, England, March 14, 1918 at 5 P.M. Quartered in tents at English Rest Camp.  Left Southampton, Eng., March 16th, 1918, at 5 P.M. on channel steamer "Joy Killer".  Strength of command, 2 officers and 159 enlisted men.

Le Havre, France

Arrived Le Havre, France, March 17th, 1918, at 4 A.M.  Distance travelled about 120 miles.  Marched to British Rest Camp and were quartered in tents.  Left Le Havre by train March 19th, 1918, at 5 A.M.  Journey from Le Havre made in box cars marked "8 Chevaux or 40 Homes".  Strength of command, 2 officers and 158 enlisted men.

St. Aignan-Noyers, France

Arrived St. Aignan-Noyers, March 20th, 1918 at 7 A.M.  Distance traveled about 165 miles.  Left St. Aignan-Noyers by marching, March 20, 1918 at 11:30 A.M.

Contres, France

Arrived Contres, France, March 20, 1918 at 4 P.M.  Distance marched about ten miles.  Billeted here in stone buildings and barns.  Kitchen in abandoned brick kiln.  Most of the time was spent at this pace in close order drill and practice marches.  Left Contres, France, by marching, March 29, 1918 at noon.  Strength of command, 2 officers and 157 enlisted men.

Blois, France

Arrived at Blois, France on March 29th, 1918 at 8 P.M. Distance marched about 12 miles.  Left Blois, France by train (box cars) March 29th, 1918, at 9 P.M.  Strength of command 2 Officers and 157 enlisted men. 

La Folie, Nanterre, Seine, France

Arrived at La Foie, Nanterre, Seine, France, on March 30th 1918, at 6:30 P.M.  Distance travelled about 110 miles.  We then moved into camp, in tents, and were allowed a few days to rest and make the camp more comfortable.  

On April 4th, the company started work with the French in their shops.  The general conditions for doing mechanical repairs were not very good, due to the fact that the shops were too small and not properly equipped for the type of work to be done.

On April 11th, 1st Lieut. Joseph L. Carll, A.S., rejoined the company from detached service.  

Our first duties were repairing trucks, touring cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and trailers and the equipment and painting of same for convoy purposes.  Also salvage work on wrecked cars and equipment.  In addition to this one detail did general garage work on trucks and touring cars for local transportation service.

Before our arrival here the French were having most of their work done by private civilians garages in and around Paris.  They only did the very lightest repairs on cars which were practically new and only needed to be tuned up a little before entering service.  They also equipped the cars and turned out about ten or fifteen cars a day from the equipment shop.  They did very little salvage work.  

The conditions under which we worked were not very satisfactory as our men had to make most of their own tools, the shops and parks had to be re-arranged and enlarged.  The system of getting supplies and parts was very poor and slowed our production down on that account.  The Light Repair Dept.  was working outside where it was impossible to work in bad weather.  

We were forced to make several improvements in order to facilitate our working conditions and to increase our productions.  We put in time systems of our own and increased our parts magazines.  The shops were enlarged and the Light Repair Department was moved to a larger park and a large hangar was erected which was used for a work shop, thereby allowing the details to work to better advantage without interference from the weather.  More tools and machinery were obtained and installed and our parts situation was helped some by putting men in cemetery (place where badly wrecked cars were parked) to remove parts most generally needed;  thereby keeping our storerooms better stocked with these parts.

On our arrival the French were a little skeptical, inspecting out work very closely as though they doubted our ability, but we soon showed them we could produce the goods and thy got to rely on us to helped us in everyway possible to become more efficient.  Their workmen worked in conjunction with us in all departments at first, but were gradually taken away from most of the departments as fast as the French Officials found we could turn out the work to better advantage alone.  The French officers and non-commissioned officers were very congenial and friendly and by their cooperation the company was able to make a very creditable showing.  

On June 9th, Captain Morrison was relieved from command of this company per Par 1, R.S.O., No. 53, c.c.

One June 9th, 1st Lieut. Charles P. Rydberg, Inf. U.S.A. was assigned to Command Company per par. 2. R.S.O., No. 53, c.s. 

On June 9th, 1st Lt. Joseph L. Carll, A.S. was relieved from duty with this company and assigned to duty with the 8th Company, 2nd Regt, Air Service Mechanics, Per par. 3, R.S.O. No. 53, c.s.

On June 15th, 1918, the work of the company was more or less haphazard due to the fact that the Americans were working side by side with the French.  The workmen were soldiers and not inclined to work, thus impleading the work of our men.  Steps were taken to have our men segregated from the French and with assistance of the French technical officer in charge, this was accomplished.  There was an immediate increase in our results and the French Officers were greatly pleased.  There was a great deal of jealousy among the French Soldiers by this change as the results of our work was held up before them as an example of what could be done.  

We installed shop card systems and also inspection tags for all finished cars, so that these cars could be inspected from time to time.  Little or no system at all was followed here by the French prior to our coming, and, as the systems were installed became know to them, they were more anxious to adopt them for their own men.  At first they would grant us permission to tryout a certain idea and as each proved a success we found ourselves being called on to handle certain conditions which were troublesome to them and told to do it in any manner we deemed best.  

A number of the men in tis organization were non-technical and it became necessary to instruct them.  These men developed into first-class mechanics and all have learned a useful trade.  The French Officers are oud in their praise of the morals of this company and its efficiency.  

Up to and including August 1st, 1918, our work consisted of mostly tuning and testing cars and motorcycles for the front.  After August 1st, we took over all heavy repairs that were being sent to civilian shops in and around Paris and though repair and inspection of all cars even to repainting.  

On November 1st, 1st Lieut. Jesse A. Johnson, A.S. was relieved form duty with this company and assigned to command 20th Co., 2nd Regt., Air Service Mechanics, per par.2, R.S.O. No. 115, c.s.

On November 1st the Company completed and moved into Adrian Bks.  The kitchen of the company, which had been built by the French some time previous was very satisfactory.  

A number of air raids by the enemy caused the company considerable loss of sleep on account of the enemy bombs, and danger of falling shrapnel from our barrage, which was very heavy.  Several enemy bombs were dropped and a number of "Bertha" shells fell in the immediate vicinity of the camp, but there were no casualties in this company.  However, these inconveniences did not effect the moral of the company in any way except to make them work harder;  in fact the "Gothae" and "Berthas" were treated as a joke.  

The company was very fortunate, being situated near Paris, in the matter of pay, clothing, fuel, rations, equipment, etc.:  also the allowance of transportation by the French was very liberal, a big six cylinder Buick touring car, one small Sigma run-about, and one Fiat Truck being assigned to the Company for its use.  

The undersigned takes great pleasure and pride in commending 1st Lieut. Jesse A. Johnson, A.S. for the efficient manner in which he organized and installed the systems used in teh shops, and in commending 2nd Lieut. Charles O. Priddy, A.S. for the efficient manner in which he performed his duties, both military, and technical, under conditions which at times, were very trying.  

The undersigned cannot find words to express his appreciation for the work of the men of the company.  They heartily cooperated in any and all of the efforts to make the company 100% efficient.  Their team work was perfect and their morale, superb;  both during their long, perilous and tiresome trip from Camp Hancock, Ga., to Nanterre, France, and during their stay in Nanterre.  

The French Commandant at this station made a favorable commendation on the work, conduct and moral of this company and its officers.

On July 16th, this company was joined by the 20th Co., 2nd Regt. Air Service Mechanics from Le Bourget.  This made it possible to enlarge all details and increase the out-put.  The figures given below are one-half of the output since the 20th Co. arrived at this station.

April 1918
Heavy Repair - 30 cars
Light Repair - 589 cars
Motorcycles - 71 motorcycles

May 1918
Heavy Repair - 55 cars
Light Repair - 760 cars
Motorcycles - 114 motorcycles

June 1918
Heavy Repair - 77 cars
Light Repair - 688 cars
Motorcycles - 104 motorcycles

July 1918
Heavy Repair - 130 cars
Light Repair - 690 cars
Motorcycles - 79 motorcycles

August 1918
Heavy Repair - 33 cars
Light Repair - 400 cars
Motorcycles - 20 motorcycles

September 1918
Heavy Repair - 28 cars
Light Repair - 226 cars
Motorcycles - 21 motorcycles

October 1918
Heavy Repair - 35 cars
Light Repair - 272 cars
Motorcycles - 20 motorcycles

November 1918
Heavy Repair - 16 cars
Light Repair - 182 cars
Motorcycles - 12 motorcycles

Roster of 12th Company - As of November 11th, 1918