In 1918, the AEF was destined for two formidable offensives—the St. Mihiel in early September and the Meuse-Argonne from late September through to the Armistice on 11 November.
The aerial work in support of these monumental offensives fell in part to the 4th Corps Observation group of the First Army Air Service, initially formed in France in July 1918. The corps was comprised at the time of the 135th and 8th Aero Squadrons. On 10 November 1918, the 168th Aero Squadron was assigned to the 4th Corps, too late to see wartime service with the corps.
The 4th Corps' responsibility was tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting. The 135th Aero—the Liberty Squadron—and the 8th Aero both operated flying the American-built British (Airco) DH-4.
The graphic below shows the German fighter (scout) planes likely to encounter the 4th Corps planes. The "new model" Pfalz (as of March 1918) was a D.XII; the Roland new model a D.VI; the Hannover CL.II both and the Albatros DVA [a] both started operations in 1917; and the Fokker D.VII is known as a strong penultimate Fokker wartime model, just predating the radical D.VIII, which, after some months of testing and adjustment, only appeared in frontline service in October 1918.
These photos presumably served as identification for American pilots, much as "spotter cards" were used in WWII.
Click on Image to Enlarge
Sources: National Museum of the United State Air Forces; Wikipedia.
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