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AV8 ACE
AV8 Ace WWI 13th "Reapers" Aero Squadron
AV8 Ace WWI 13th "Reapers" Aero Squadron
Regular price
$32.00 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$32.00 USD
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The 13th Aero Squadron was organized in June 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas, during the rapid expansion of American military aviation in World War I. After initial flight training in the United States using the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, the squadron deployed overseas in late 1917 and continued advanced pursuit and combat training in France. Assigned to the 2d Pursuit Group of the American Expeditionary Forces, the 13th became a frontline fighter squadron equipped with the highly respected SPAD XIII, one of the premier Allied fighters of the war.
Operating over the Western Front in 1918, the 13th Aero Squadron flew escort, patrol, interception, and ground attack missions during major campaigns including the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. Nicknamed the “Grim Reapers,” the squadron engaged German aircraft in intense aerial combat while protecting Allied reconnaissance and bombardment missions. The unit fought repeatedly against elite German fighter formations flying the Fokker D.VII, suffering losses but also producing several American aces, including Charles J. Biddle and future Air Force leader Carl Spaatz. During the war, the squadron flew more than 1,300 sorties and was credited with destroying 29 enemy aircraft.
By the end of World War I, the 13th Aero Squadron had established itself as one of America’s capable pursuit units, helping demonstrate the growing importance of fighter aviation in modern warfare. Its combat operations contributed directly to Allied air superiority during the final offensives of the war. After returning to the United States in 1919, the squadron was demobilized, but its lineage continued through later Air Force organizations, eventually becoming part of the modern 13th Bomb Squadron—preserving the legacy of one of the early American fighter squadrons of World War I.
The tri-blend fabric creates a vintage, fitted look. And extreme durability makes this t-shirt withstand repeated washings and still remain super comfortable.
• 50% polyester, 25% combed ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon
• Fabric weight: 3.4 oz/yd² (115.3 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk for extra durability
• 40 singles
• Regular fit
• Side-seamed construction
• Blank product sourced from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, or the US
Disclaimer: The fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through, especially in lighter colors or under certain lighting conditions.
Operating over the Western Front in 1918, the 13th Aero Squadron flew escort, patrol, interception, and ground attack missions during major campaigns including the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. Nicknamed the “Grim Reapers,” the squadron engaged German aircraft in intense aerial combat while protecting Allied reconnaissance and bombardment missions. The unit fought repeatedly against elite German fighter formations flying the Fokker D.VII, suffering losses but also producing several American aces, including Charles J. Biddle and future Air Force leader Carl Spaatz. During the war, the squadron flew more than 1,300 sorties and was credited with destroying 29 enemy aircraft.
By the end of World War I, the 13th Aero Squadron had established itself as one of America’s capable pursuit units, helping demonstrate the growing importance of fighter aviation in modern warfare. Its combat operations contributed directly to Allied air superiority during the final offensives of the war. After returning to the United States in 1919, the squadron was demobilized, but its lineage continued through later Air Force organizations, eventually becoming part of the modern 13th Bomb Squadron—preserving the legacy of one of the early American fighter squadrons of World War I.
The tri-blend fabric creates a vintage, fitted look. And extreme durability makes this t-shirt withstand repeated washings and still remain super comfortable.
• 50% polyester, 25% combed ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon
• Fabric weight: 3.4 oz/yd² (115.3 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk for extra durability
• 40 singles
• Regular fit
• Side-seamed construction
• Blank product sourced from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, or the US
Disclaimer: The fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through, especially in lighter colors or under certain lighting conditions.
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