28th Bomb Squadron - History - World War I - Training in France

Training in France

At the rest camp, orders were received for "C" Flight to proceed to Villers-Bretonneux, Picardy, to be attached to No. 25 Squadron RAF. 25 Sqn was equipped with De Haviland DH-4s and doing day bombing. The flight entrained at once and arrived at the Airdrome on the 20th. The remainder of the squadron entrained on the morning of 19 March for Hazebrouck, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, arriving there on the 20th. Here the Flights were met and told to get out of the town rapidly as possible as the Germans were shelling the town with 15-inch shells once a minute. Headquarters and "A" Flight went to join No. 57 Squadron RAF at Sainte-Marie-Cappel, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, and "B" Flight went to join No. 28 Squadron RAF at the airdrome at Triozinnes, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais south of Aire.

The officers and men were growing accustomed to the work and surroundings with the German 1918 Spring Offensive began on 21 March. This necessitated movements and a great deal of work as all Flights were attached to bombing units and three or four raids weer being carried out daily. On the late afternoon of 25 March, 25 Squadron, to which Flight "C" was attached was hurriedly moved back, as the Germans were driving on Amiens. On 1 April, Headquarters and "A" Flight were detached from 57 Squadron and attached to No. 20 Squadron RAF, equipped with the Bristol F.2 Fighter. On 7 April "B" Flight was reassigned to No. 40 Squadron RAF. During this time the Germans had started their drive for the French channel ports in the region south of Ypres. Enemy artillery was shelling the Airdrome at Triozinnes. forcing 18 Squadron and "B" Flight to move to safer quarters on 8 April. By 12 April, the Germans were in light artillery range of Sainte-Marie-Cappel. There Headquarters Flighte was moved out and attached to No. 206 Squadron RAF, equipped with Airco DH.9 day bombers. "A" Flight was re-attached to No. 98 Squadron RAF, also equipped with DH.9s at Alquines. On 15 April, Headquarters Flight also was assigned to 98 Sqn. On 25 May 98 Squadron and "A" Flight were moved to the outskirts of Dunkirk, however, the enemy bombed their Airdrome on the night of 5 June, causing much damage, being considered the worst of any Airdrome experienced. The next morning a move was made to Ruisseauville where 98 Sqn joined with 25 Sqn and "C" Flight.

By the end of June, rumors were persistent that the 28th Squadron would be re-assembled and work at a unit. These rumors turned out to be true and on the 24th the squadron was re-assembled at Saint-Omer Aerodrome, and then proceeded by train to Issoudun, arriving on the 28th. Here, the men were placed in training for major aircraft repair, and were hard at work learning new skills. On 7 July, the Squadron was moved to Orly Airport, Paris for additional training. Also at Orly, the Air Echelon, which had been training with the RAF was re-assigned to the Squadron. On 14 July, the squadron entrained at Paris for Toul to return to the front.