185th Aero Squadron

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The 185th Aero Squadron, nicknamed the Bats, was a United States Army Air Service night fighter squadron in World War I. It was the first and only American unit dedicated to night pursuit, flying Sopwith Camel F.1s with the fuselage code “Bats.” The squadron served from November 11, 1917, to June 1919 and fought on the Western Front in France as part of the 1st Pursuit Group.

What it did
- Mission: Night interception of enemy bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
- Front-line service: October 5 to November 11, 1918, on the Western Front.
- Activity: 126 total sorties, 34 combat missions, six encounters with the enemy. No official American air-to-air victories were recorded, though a possible night victory occurred when Col. Harold E. Hartney engaged a Gotha bomber on October 22–23, 1918.
- Notable people: Lt. Seth Low and Capt. Jerry C. Vasconcells commanded units at times; Lt. Elihu H. Kelton earned a Citation Star for action on October 30, 1918.

Training and early days
- Organization: Formed at Kelly Field, Texas, on November 11, 1917, by transferring men from the 24th Aero Squadron. Many members had experience with the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny trainer.
- Overseas preparation: Spent time in England under Royal Flying Corps supervision, training on Sopwith Strutters, Camels, and Dolphins.
- Move to France: Arrived in France in August 1918 and traveled between several camps as they prepared for combat.

Night operations and challenges
- Assignment: On October 7, 1918, moved to Rembercourt Aerodrome and joined the 1st Pursuit Group as a Night Chase squadron—the first American unit dedicated to night fighting.
- Difficulties: Night flying was new, airfields lacked lights, and equipment and spare parts were scarce. Pilots had limited night training, and the squadron had to test out wing flares, parachute flares, and instrument lighting.
- First alerts: The squadron began night operations on October 18–19, 1918. Their missions over enemy territory continued with mixed results; they helped disrupt enemy bomber raids even when they did not score official victories.

After the war
- End of combat: Active combat missions ended with the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Daylight flights occurred briefly after the Armistice, but operations did not extend into German airspace.
- Demobilization: December 1918 saw the squadron turn in gear and return home. Personnel were reassigned or released to await demobilization.
- Return to the United States: The 185th moved to Brest in May 1919, boarded ships in June, and arrived in New York in late June. The unit was demobilized at Mitchel Field on Long Island shortly thereafter.

Legacy and modern connection
- The 185th Aero Squadron’s spirit lives on in the modern era as the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, activated in June 2019. Based with the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing, the squadron now protects airmen in the cyberspace domain, reflecting the original unit’s mission to defend their forces in a new kind of battle space.

Aircraft used
- Primary aircraft: Sopwith Camel F.1 (utilized during the night pursuit operations in 1918).