U.S. 96th Aero Squadron at Amanty Airdrome in France during World War 1. Airmen unload bombs from a truck. They place fuses in the tails of the bombs. They load the bombs to racks under wings of a French Breguet 14 biplane bomber. Major J. L. Dunsworth, Commanding Officer of the 96th Aero Squadron and First Lieutenant V. F. Ludden inspect the operation. Ground crewmen work hard, pulling the propeller through numerous times before finally getting the engine to start on the. Breguet 14. Lt. A. H. Alexander in the pilot's cockpit and Lt. E. MCLennair in the observer and gunner's position discuss something they see in the air behind them. The insignia of the 96th Aero Squadron (a devil carrying a bomb in a triangle) is painted on the fuselage of the airplane.
Activities at the First Air Depot in Colombey-les-Belles, France during World War I. An early morning scene shows a large number of new De Havilland DH-4 bombers, painted in French colors, parked on the airfield. Pilots and mechanics begin to move amongst the aircraft and work on them. Extended panorama of hangars and buildings with clouds in the sky. New DH-4 and Spad XIII aircraft near canvas hangars. Some aircraft stripped for parts or repair. Mechanics and pilots near the aircraft. Men smooth parts of the airfield using horse-drawn wooden platforms. Pilots and mechanics near new and repaired parked aircraft.
Camera pans along a road and railroad, show a truck convoy moving on the road past camouflaged barracks and hangars of a French airbase in World War 1. De Havilland DH-4s and other aircraft are parked on the field. An American and a French officer walk together across the field. Mechanics and helpers work to restrain a Spad XIII moving with engine running. Several of them hold it back by pulling on wing struts. Finally the pilot (or mechanic) in the cockpit stops the plane, and several other men catch up with it.
French civilian spectators fill a grandstand and ground in front of it to watch a French military track meet (with some American participation) during World War 1. Longer distance runners are cheered by some spectators as they cross the finish line, one by one, in front of the grandstand. contestants run a shorter race with a close finish. The winner is congratulated by a French military officer. Scene shifts to closeup of Lieutenant Paul Rene Fonk, French Air Ace credited with over 59 enemy planes. He stands in center of stadium, being recognized by the crowd. An American officer is seen standing behind him. Next, a large group of youths perform calisthentics in unison for the crowd. Lieutenant Leonard, of the U.S. Air Service (in athletic garb) converses with Lieutenant Fonk. Other athletes, another U.S. flyer, and a French civilian official stand with them. As they move away, Lieutenant Fonk and other French officers remain to confer with the French civilian official. Another race is seen, next, as runners come past in single file around the track.
Aviation activities in France during World War I. A French Spad VII C.1 aircraft takes off from an airfield near Chaux. The aircraft in flight overhead. It lands. A formation of single-engine bi-winged French bombers in flight
Aviation activities in France during World War I. An observation balloon is launched near the Alsace sector by a French balloon squadron. A formation of French single-engine bi-winged bombers in flight. The French observation balloon in the foreground. Two World War I bi-winged aircraft in flight.