DH-4 De Havilland
Dehaviland DH-4
This aircraft was utilized as bombers, observation planes, trainers, and utility types and operated mainly from the Northern Bombing Group at Dunkirk, France. After the war, most of the craft were burned rather than be returned to the United States, though some of the aircraft were used by the U.S. Postal Service. This aircraft type took part in the first raid-in-force by the Northern Bombing Group on October 4, 1918. In this raid, eight planes of the Marine Day Squadron 9 dropped 17 bombs, totaling 2,218 pounds on the German-held railroad junction at Thielt, Belgium. Returning, the planes were attacked by 12 German fighters. For extraordinary herosim during this raid, Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot and Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Robinson were awarded the Medal of Honor. The DH-4 aircraft of the Day Wing, Northern Bombing Group was the first U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation unit to have a unit insignia, consisting of the U.S. Marine Corps insignia placed on the national aviation insignia used from February 1918 and August 1919.
Image: NH 2853: De Havilland, DH-4, aircraft, 1918. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
