Seeking "Captain Box"

[historyguy]

I am looking for an identification of a "Captain Box" who was stationed at Amanty Airdrome, France in September 1918. He may have been with a night bomber squadron. I do not know if he was in the U.S. Air Service or not. Any leads would be appreciated. Thanks!

[regular122]

I believe you are seeking Thomas A. Box. He served with 88th Observation Squadron from 22 Feb 1918 to 20 July 1918, but then learned of the newly forming 9th Aero at Amanty. He volunteered for duty with them, bringing other volunteers: Gardiner Daily, Leslie Simpson, Philip West, Harry Grainger, Harold Merrill, and Willard Thomas.

Box, though not officially given command of anything, was instrumental in forming the squadron and turning it into a night flying specialty unit. They scraped together what machines and hangar space they could in 96th Aero's area of operations.

By 28 August, they had gathered 12 machines of various states of repair from new to pieced together. They had 3 pilots and 12 observers. On 28 August they then moved to Vavincourt, slightly to the east. When Lt. Maury Hill, who had been officially assigned the command but had been working with the 24th Aero had officially transferred on 2 Sep, Box became the 9th's defacto commander. He was given official sanction with a date of 23 August 1918.

He commanded the unit until October 1918, leading them through the St. Mihiel Offensive, when he transferred to HQs, 1st A.O.G.

I'll see what else I can dig up. Would be nice to find a picture.

Steve

[historyguy]

Steve -
Thank you! This must be the right man. I have seen reference to him being relieved after refusing to send out his squadron on the night mission of Sept. 12, 1918.
I greatly appreciate your help.