Aviation Pioneer. The United States Marine Corps' first aviator, while stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he leased a homemade civilian plane to try to teach himself how to fly. With his enthusiasm for aviation growing, the native of Atlanta, Georgia persuaded the Marines to allow him to enter flight training school. He soloed on August 20, 1912 becoming the Marines Corps first pilot. The next year he participated in naval exercises that led to the navy's first scouting missions using airplanes. In 1916 he became the first Marine officer to fly landplanes and he made the first catapult launched aircraft take off from a warship underway. At the beginning of the US's involvement in World War I he was placed in charge of the Marine Aviation Force. After intensive study and wartime simulation exercises the pilot was sent to Europe with a plan but with no planes. But under his leadership the Marines gathered enough planes and parts to eventually develop four squadrons. His pilots, in the face of enemy fire, made the first recorded food drop to trapped French troops. During the war the squadrons shot down eight enemy planes while undertaking fifty-seven raids. In a time when most were skeptical of the use aviation in the military he pushed forward with his dream and helped formulate many of the successes achieved in aeronautics today. After the war he returned to the US where he continued his duties as a military strategist seeking ways to strengthen the nation's aviation military forces. He retired in 1936 and died three years later in Sarasota, Florida having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1965 he was honored for his efforts as he was enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Aviation Pioneer. The United States Marine Corps' first aviator, while stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he leased a homemade civilian plane to try to teach himself how to fly. With his enthusiasm for aviation growing, the native of Atlanta, Georgia persuaded the Marines to allow him to enter flight training school. He soloed on August 20, 1912 becoming the Marines Corps first pilot. The next year he participated in naval exercises that led to the navy's first scouting missions using airplanes. In 1916 he became the first Marine officer to fly landplanes and he made the first catapult launched aircraft take off from a warship underway. At the beginning of the US's involvement in World War I he was placed in charge of the Marine Aviation Force. After intensive study and wartime simulation exercises the pilot was sent to Europe with a plan but with no planes. But under his leadership the Marines gathered enough planes and parts to eventually develop four squadrons. His pilots, in the face of enemy fire, made the first recorded food drop to trapped French troops. During the war the squadrons shot down eight enemy planes while undertaking fifty-seven raids. In a time when most were skeptical of the use aviation in the military he pushed forward with his dream and helped formulate many of the successes achieved in aeronautics today. After the war he returned to the US where he continued his duties as a military strategist seeking ways to strengthen the nation's aviation military forces. He retired in 1936 and died three years later in Sarasota, Florida having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1965 he was honored for his efforts as he was enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Bio by: Bigwoo
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