The squadron was ordered to Saint-Juste field near Ravenel to winter over and to prepare for the spring offensive. Living conditions were harsh, and the cold weather severely limited flying.

During March, the Germans began a retreat in the Somme sector, and the Allies pursued them with the squadron flying reconnaissance for General Nivelle’s forces.

From mid April to early June, the fighting was fierce both on the ground and in the air, and the squadron lost Edmond Genet, Ronald Hoskier, and Lieutenant deLaage deMeux within a few weeks. In April and May, the unit fought 66 air battles, one a day average, and downed seven of the enemy.

And while at Saint-Juste, William Thaw went to Paris and bought “Soda,” a female lion cub, as a companion for “Whiskey.”

On 6 April, President Woodrow Wilson declared America at War with Germany.

Ray Bridgeman, Andrew Courtney Campbell, Carl Dolan, John Drexel, and Henry Jones joined the squadron at Ham.

Sergent Harold Willis beside his Nieuport at Saint-Juste. Willis, a trained architect, redesigned the Indian insignia on the fuselage. In World War II, Willis returned to Europe with the American Field Service Ambulance Corps.