I've been satisfying a curiosity by writing a paper about the first 24 Military Aviators--the men who wore the wing that Hap Arnold wore all his life. Getting an image of each of them wearing their wing is likely impossible, but I'm finding that some of those guys are really obscure and difficult to find at all on the net. Of course, a number of them were killed during the early days of flight and didn't live long enough to leave much about themselves behind, much less a nice portrait or candid photo.

Question: do any of you have some pictures of these guys in your files? I can post a list of the names if that would help, and indicate which ones I have had trouble finding. Preference would be for a picture of the man wearing his badge like Hap Arnold below; or just a good quality image of the man; or in a few cases any image at all.

If there is any interest in this thread I can provide more specific information as to needs. Thanks.

As I discovered when researching my family history a few years ago, the more you dig, the more you generally find. For instance there is a special section in Arlington where a number of these guys are interred, since a number of them died while in service.

Also, the New York Times seems to have published a number of articles about a number of these pilots chronicling their latest flights as they embarked on what appears to have been a never ending quest to set new speed, altitude, and endurance records. Some of the stories describe flights of little more than a Cessna fkight from Long Beach to Santa Monica, but worthy of a story in the NYT since all of it was so new.

One of the guys went out to execute his first loop, the plane broke, and he was killed when he plunged into San Diego harbor. Looks like about half of them were trained by the Wrights at College Park, while the other half were trained by Glen Curtiss in San Diego. It also appears that the two schools also trained a stream of civilians at the same time.

The Air Service cut their teeth against the Mexican border raiders in 1915, then began to work things out during WWI, then had to fight the Army inertia through the 20's and 30's. Quite a story to go along with the wings. No wonder there doesn't seem to be much uniformity in the WWI wings...the Air Corps itself was still trying to get its act together.

It seems I've always been attracted to obscure subjects. Many years ago my high school thesis or whatever it was called was on Mentor Graham, Lincoln's obscure teacher. Would you believe that I was the only one to come up with that subject?

Paul,

You may already have these books; however, here are a few titles that could be an immense help with your research:

1. Man Unafraid, by Stephen F. Tillman, Army Times Publishing Company, 1958, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 58-6008

2. How Our Army Grew Wings, by Charles deForest Chandler and Frank P. Lahm, The Ronald Press Company, 1943

3. The United States Army Air Arm - April 1861 to April 1917, by Juliette A. Hennessy, (1st edition) USAF Historical Division, 1958; (2nd edition) Office of Air Force History United States Air Force, 1985, Library of Congress Catalog Car Number 85-18965

-cp

Cliff,

Thank you for those references...I recognize two of the authors as two of the 24. Would you consider the Chandler-Lahm book better than the others? It should be closer to being original source material. And interesting that it was published during WWII.

Paul S

Paul, both "Man Unafraid" and "The United States Army Air Arm - April 1861 to April 1917" should be an absolute "must have" for anyone wanting to do the type of research you wish to do.

Good luck finding them.

-cp

Paul here is Man Unafraid (click me).

Cliff thanks for the title!

John

Paul, Do you have the names of the 24 you can list here? Maybe some of us have something and we don't know it! Kim

Here they are Kim,

1. Henry H.Arnold
2. Paul W. Beck
3. Lewis H. Brereton
4. Joseph E. Carberry
5. Charles DeF. Chandler
6. Carleton G. Chapman
7. Herbert A. Dargue
8. Townsend F. Dodd
9. Eric L. Ellington
10. Benjamin D. Fulois
11. Harold Geiger
12. Lewis E Goodier, Jr.
13. Hugh M. Kelly
14. Roy C. Kirtland
15. Frank P. Lahm
16. Samuel H McLeary
17. Thomas DeW. Milling
18. Joseph C. Morrow, Jr.
19. Hollis L. Muller
20. Joseph D. Park
21. Henry B. Post
22. Fred C. Seydel
23. Walter R. Taliaferro
24. Robert H. Willis, Jr.

Thanks Paul! Just curious but are they all Army?

Think so, although Ellington was an Annapolis graduate. He was transferred to the Army by an executive order of President Taft according to my information.

Paul S

Well, according to a Wikipedia posting, "Asked how to say his name, he told The Literary Digest "Rhymes with to cloy: foo-loy'." (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)"

My intent is not too ambitious, but would be to gather what I can find in the form of a one or two page bio on each of them, illustrated with whatever portraits or pictures I can find, preferably those that show them wearing their original badges, then lacking that, whatever good image(s) I can find.

The article found in Duncan Campbell's fine book gave me the idea to expand that account a bit further. I'm not interested in making it an involved historical work as that has been done before, but who knows, once into it there might be enough to take it further down a new track.

Paul S

Lewis H. Brereton also was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (class of 1911). I've never seen a picture of his first wings, but you will find plenty of material about him, as he had a long active service career before retiring as a lieutenant general in 1948.

You are on an interesting project...be looking forward to seeing your results.

Right you are...I had that but overlooked it in the reply. Have found a decent picture of Brereton in WWII uniform and should be able to find a better one...alas, no badge.

Here is a picture that shows 4 officers with Glenn Curtiss as their flight instructor, one of the 4 is Paul Beck. Will someone with some sharp eyes and a deeper knowledge than mine take a look at his badge and offer an opinion as to whether he is wearing one of the originals, or was there something else commonly worn at the time that looks like this? It appears to have some characteristics of the Aviator Badge, but there looks to be some other material above and below it:

It looks something like an Army Distinguished Marksmanship Badge (however, neither my eyesight nor my monitor is very sharp). There were many varieties of these competition badges worn during the early 20th century and I doubt if anyone knows them all, but Emerson's Marksmanship in the U.S. Army is a good and accessible survey of this material.

Actually, there were 25 pilots who earned the Military Aviator rating before 1 January, 1914.

About 10 years after the third printing of Duncan Campbell's book in 1991 (see page 92) we managed to confirm that Colonel Charles B. Winder, Ohio National Guard, also qualifed as a MA on June 5, 1912 at the Army Aviation School in Augusta, GA. In addition to his MA rating, Colonel Winder held Aero Club of America F.A.I. Aviator Certificate #130.

-cp

Thanks for the additional information, Cliff. I'll add him to the list. I think you had speculated that Frederic E. Humphreys may have held that 25th badge...have you been able to clarify his status?

It's interesting to trace some of the living relatives when possible and see if they might have something to contribute. I contacted a distant relative of a fallen WWII airman recently and was greeted warmly with some amazing history. He had flown with my father in the same Group, but didn't make it.

Paul S

Hi Paul,

The 1913 Military Aviator badge worn by Frederic E. Humphreys in the portrait at Fort Belvoir will probably always remain a mystery. We could not find any record that would verify he was officially qualified to wear one, and his daughter was unable to confirm it; therefore, in my mind that suggests the badge he wore for the portrait would not be an original 1913 example struck at the Rock Island Arsenal. More probable, it was a post-1918 facsimile.

So how did he get away with wearing it? Who can say for sure but without question he was a pioneer military pilot ... and sometimes 'rank' really does have its privileges.

-cp

.
Should anybody be interested, standing on the fare left of the photo below is Colonel Charles B. Warner, Ohio National Guard. Until just recently, and probably because he was in the National Guard rather than the Regular Army, Colonel Warner has been overlooked by historians for his having actually received a Military Aviator rating in 1912. Colonal Warner was 33-years old at the time.

Also in the center of the photo is another Military Aviator, Thomas DeWitt Milling.

Here is an interesting picture of Arnold and Milling. I've liked it for some time due to its clarity and that 2 of the early Military Aviators are shown in period costume. But looking more closely at it...I think is was a posed picture probably dating to the WWII period...these men are older, perhaps in their fifties or older. Does anyone know the story behind this photo?

Paul S

Paul,

Judging from the goggles and leather helments that they are wearing that picture was taken sometime between 1935 and 1940.

-CP

You might try the book They Also Flew by Lee Arbon. It is about enlisted pilots but many of the pilots you are looking for are mentioned and pictured in it. There is a lot of interesting stuff on the early training or actually the lack of training.

Paul,

I stand corrected. That picture was taken in Sacramento, CA, 1931.

Sorry,

-CP

Sacramento, CA, 1931

This MA badge belonged to MG Louis H. Brereton who had it made after losing the original example prior to WW2 but being young, nervous and too inexperienced at the time to ask, I've no idea where it was made.

Historic photo: Seven Military Aviators standing in a row.

Cliff,

You're amazing. Old pictures like these are such interesting glimpses into a moment past. No telling what Arnold and Milling were doing together in Sacramento, but there is likely a story of some kind there. As you know from your own experience, gathering together for a group picture for one reason or another is usually an ancillary activity to some other function that is going on and as such of minor interest at the time.

Croix & Dave,

Thanks for the bookfinder references...none better in my estimation. Found a rare 1958 reprint of an 1864 original journal that recorded my great grandfather's movements with his Arkansas Regiment during the WBTS in a bookfinder listing. Had been looking for that little book for 2-years and found it in a small bookshop south of London...go figure.

Another thing I haven't found in picture form is something showing Billy Mitchell with Arnold, Spaatz, and Eaker together. As you know, Mitchell was widely regarded by most of the knowledgeable aviators of WWII as the mentor of those leading the AAF during the war--I think Lew Lyle referred to them as his disciples.

Thanks for your interest and participation fellows...great thread, great contributions.

Paul S

Lieut Joseph E. Carberry sitting in Signal Corps airplane #29, a Curtiss Model "J"

Lieut Joseph M. Morrow, Jr. sitting in Signal Corps airplane #29, a Curtiss Model "J"

Lieut Walter R. Taliaferro in the machine, Lieut Arthur R. Christy on the ground.

Capt Charles de Forest Chandler seated in the passenger seat of a Wright Model B Flyer holding a machine gun with Leiut Roy C. Kirtland at the controls.

Harold Geiger

Lewis Hyde Brereton

Thomas DeWitt Milling, France, 1918.

To see an example of the same style Military Aviator wing badge he is wearing
in the photograph go to:

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...=28827&st=0
Post #28

Frank P. Lahm

Frank P. Lahm - Federation Aeronautique Internationale license
issued by the Aero Club of America

Benjamin D. Foulois, 1918


To see an example of the same style Military Aviator wing badge he is wearing
in the photograph above go to:

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...=28827&st=0
Post #28

Robert Willis - Military Aviator #21

Aero Club of America Expert Aviators Certificate #22

Original 1913 Military Aviator badge made by Rock Island Arsenal

Lt/Col. Paul W. Beck

There are five original Military Aviators in this photo taken in 1911:

Henry H. Arnold, Roy C. Kirland, Thomas DeW. Milling, Samuel H. McLeary, Harold Geiger

Others in the photo are:

Frederick B. Hennessy, Lewis C. Rockwell, Frank M. Kennedy

Here are the pictures of Mr. Willis and Mr. Taliaferro lightened and cropped a bit.

And here is the elusive Mr. Morrow.

Colonel Charles DeForest Chandler

Flying Ratings:
Aero Club of America Spherical balloon pilot certificate No. 8, F.A.I. (1907)
Aero Club of America Aviator's Certificate No. 59, F.A.I. (1911)
Military Aviator No. 4 (1912)
Aero Club of America Expert Aviator No. 5 (1912)

Paul,

Wow! Nice job on those pictures.
Can the one of T.D. Milling in post #43 be improved too?

Sure hope so.

cp

Cliff,

Here's a try...there's not much detail in the shadow on this one.

Paul

Have owned the attached picture for a long time. Back is dated 1936, Presidio of San Franciso. Any ideas who the officer is?

THAT IS A WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPH!

The officer is Colonel Roy Carrington Kirkland.

Born at Fort Benton, Montana, on May 14, 1874, Roy C. Kirtland enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1898, eventually earning a commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry on August 29, 1901. In March 1911, Roy Kirtland was transferred from the Infantry Division to the Air Service and placed in charge of the U.S. Aviation School at College Park, Maryland.

While learning to fly one of the early Wright airplanes, he was asked to recommend other young officers for flight training. He recommended Lieutenant Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, who later became Chief of the Army Air Corps.

Colonel Kirtland was one of the first Army pilots, receiving in 1911 Certificate No. 46 from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. He also holds Expert Aviatior License No. 11 from the Aero Club of America. From April to June, 1911, he was in charge of the U.S. Aviation School at College Park, Md.

Roy Kirtland went on to command the First Aero Squadron in 1913 and served in various Signal Corps aviation school capacities until his return to the Infantry Division in 1915. After rejoining the Signal Corps Aviation Section in 1917, he was assigned the task of organizing motor mechanic regiments, and then assumed command of the Third Regiment in France. While overseas, he served as inspector of aviation in England and Air Service rest camps.

After World War I, Colonel Kirtland became a flight instructor, commanded aviation supply depots, and later graduated from the U.S. Army War College. During the late 1920s, he served with the General Staff until his appointment in 1930, as Commandant of Langley Field, Virginia, and as acting Commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School. Colonel Roy C. Kirtland retired from the military in 1938 after 40 years of dedicated service.
However, three years later at the age of 65, he returned to active duty at the West Coast Army Air Forces Training Center, Moffett Field, California. On May 2, 1941, he died there from a massive heart attack. At the time of his death he was the third oldest military pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

On February 25, 1942, at the special request of General 'Hap' Arnold, Albuquerque Army Air Base in New Mexico was renamed Kirtland Army Air Field in honor of his lifelong friend, Roy C. Kirtland.

On January 13, 1948, Kirtland Army Air Field became Kirtland Air Force Base. The base occupies over 52,000 acres and is the sixth largest in the Air Force.

Hi 10-X,

Thank you for posting this wonderful picture and thanks to Cliff for identifying Col. Kirtland. Prior to seeing this portrait the best I've been able to find of Kirtland is pretty poor. A marvelous portrait. I took the liberty of adjusting the exposure a bit to lighten it...one in B/W and one in sepia as the original. Do you recall where and how you came into possession of this picture?

Paul S

Here is a lightened version of the Brereton portrait above--looks like it has been worked on before...see the vertical line through the center.

Paul S