help find info.on 19th. persuite squadren world war one?

Question

my father was in the united states airforce just after world war one, he flew a handley-paige 4 engine bomber, it had two wings, the plane was from england. he was stationed in honolulu hawaii , he belonged to the 19th. persuite squadren i need help in finding out information about his unit and pictures of his plane can you help me.

Answer 1

Wow! This is a complicated puzzle. But it's fun to try to solve it, so here we go ...

First, that Handley Page 4 engine bomber, "just after world war one":
The only Handley Page that fits your description is the V/1500: it was a 4-engine, long range biplane bomber, produced in 1918. [see link 1 below for a full description and photo]

But the problem with the V/1500 fitting your question is that it was produced in quite small numbers, and I can't find any record of the type being used by the Air Corps. (By the way, if your Dad was in the "air force" just after WW1, he was actually in the Air Corps - which was the name of that branch at that time.)

The Air Corps did operate some Handley Page aircraft just after WW1. But they were not v/1500 four-engine biplane bombers. They were O/400 twin-engine biplane bombers. I'm not calling your Dad a fibber, but maybe he means the O/400.
[see link 2 below for a full description and photo of the O/400]

Now, as to your father's unit ...

Here's another problem: a "Pursuit Squadron" flew fighters, not bombers; and certainly not heavy bombers like the Handley Page.

But, maybe there is an explanation for that seeming contradiction. The 19th Pursuit Squadron was indeed based in Hawaii (Wheeler Field), so that fits. But the 19th Pursuit Squadron was part of the "18th Composite Wing" [see link 3 for details]. A "Composite Wing" included squadrons flying a variety of different types of aircraft. Maybe (I don't know) one of the other squadrons in the 18th Wing had some Handley Page aircraft. Maybe your father, although assigned to the 19th Pursuit Squadron, also flew with that other sister squadron, in one of their Handley Page aircraft?

There is still a mystery, however: as far as I know, the 18th Composite Wing was not activated until January 1927. That is 8+ years after WW1. And those Handley Page aircraft would have been looking pretty ancient by then.

But, that is the most I can ferret out for you right now. I'll edit this answer if I find anything else.

Great Question!