Posted on Sep 8, 2022
#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran William L. Kenly - VA News
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WWI
Spanish American War
Maj Gen
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Thank you my friend, brother-in-arms and brother-in-Christ MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. for honoring deceased US Army veteran of WWI Major General William Lacy Kenly who was leader of the United States Army Air Service during the 1st World War, the progenitor of the United States Air Force.
Background from the 2015 Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, USMA, West Point, New York
He graduated from my alma mater, USMA, West Point as graduate #3,292 with the class of 1889.
He was awarded two Silver Stars during the 1898 war with Spain, served as Aide de camp to General Arthur MaCarthur [1900-1900]
Images:
1. 1918 'Major General William L. Kenly (center) Director of Military Aeronautics, and two of his associates observe a training flight with pleasure
2. Headstone of Major General William Lacey Kenly [1865-1928] and his wife Julie Terry Closson [1969-1943] Arlington National Cemetery
3. 1918 'Major General William L. Kenly (center) Director of Military Aeronautics, and two of his associates observe a training flight with pleasure
Background from {[https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/William_L._Kenly]}
William Lacy Kenly
Born February 18, 1864
Died January 10, 1928
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Department of the Army Seal.svg United States Army
Rank US-O8 insignia.svg Major General
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (2)
William Lacy Kenly (February 18, 1864 – January 10, 1928) was a major general in the United States Army. During World War I, he was a leader of a progenitor of the United States Air Force, the United States Army Air Service.[1]
Biography
William L. Kenly was born on February 18, 1864, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Major William L. and Marion (Hook) Kenly. His father participated in the United States Civil War. His immigrant ancestor was his great great grandfather Rev. Daniel Kenly who emigrated from Scotland to Maryland in the 1700s.
He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, 12 June 1898, in field artillery and took part on August 16, 1899, in the Battle of Angeles, in the Pampanga Province during the Philippine-American War.[2]
On September 3, 1917, Brigadier General Kenly became the first Chief of Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France, effectively taking control away from the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. Previously a field artillery commander, he did not have experience leading an air force, and Billy Mitchell wielded a large amount of influence in the AEF's operational decisions. Kenly was replaced a short time later by Brig. Gen. Benjamin Foulois. Kenly then returned to the United States to become Director of Military Aeronautics from May 20, 1918, to August 28, 1918. During this period, he was the titular head of the newly established United States Army Air Service. He retired in 1919 and King George of Great Britain awarded Kenly the honor of Companion of the Order of the Bath.[3]
Kenly died of a heart attack on January 10, 1928.[1] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
References
"Col. Kenly Dies Of Heart Attack. Former Chief of Air Service of American Forces in France Stricken in Washington. Won Three Decorations. Veteran Served As Director Of Military Aeronautics Before His Retirement In 1919". January 12, 1928. Retrieved 2012-10-23. "Colonel William L. Kenly, first chief of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Forces in France and later director of military aeronautics for the duration of the war, died suddenly ..."
Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 by Arnaldo Dumindin
The Los Angeles Times, KING GEORGE HONORS OFFICER WE OUSTED, Apr 17, 1919, page 1.'
Background from the 2015 Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, USMA, West Point, New York
He graduated from my alma mater, USMA, West Point as graduate #3,292 with the class of 1889.
He was awarded two Silver Stars during the 1898 war with Spain, served as Aide de camp to General Arthur MaCarthur [1900-1900]
Images:
1. 1918 'Major General William L. Kenly (center) Director of Military Aeronautics, and two of his associates observe a training flight with pleasure
2. Headstone of Major General William Lacey Kenly [1865-1928] and his wife Julie Terry Closson [1969-1943] Arlington National Cemetery
3. 1918 'Major General William L. Kenly (center) Director of Military Aeronautics, and two of his associates observe a training flight with pleasure
Background from {[https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/William_L._Kenly]}
William Lacy Kenly
Born February 18, 1864
Died January 10, 1928
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Department of the Army Seal.svg United States Army
Rank US-O8 insignia.svg Major General
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (2)
William Lacy Kenly (February 18, 1864 – January 10, 1928) was a major general in the United States Army. During World War I, he was a leader of a progenitor of the United States Air Force, the United States Army Air Service.[1]
Biography
William L. Kenly was born on February 18, 1864, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Major William L. and Marion (Hook) Kenly. His father participated in the United States Civil War. His immigrant ancestor was his great great grandfather Rev. Daniel Kenly who emigrated from Scotland to Maryland in the 1700s.
He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, 12 June 1898, in field artillery and took part on August 16, 1899, in the Battle of Angeles, in the Pampanga Province during the Philippine-American War.[2]
On September 3, 1917, Brigadier General Kenly became the first Chief of Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France, effectively taking control away from the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. Previously a field artillery commander, he did not have experience leading an air force, and Billy Mitchell wielded a large amount of influence in the AEF's operational decisions. Kenly was replaced a short time later by Brig. Gen. Benjamin Foulois. Kenly then returned to the United States to become Director of Military Aeronautics from May 20, 1918, to August 28, 1918. During this period, he was the titular head of the newly established United States Army Air Service. He retired in 1919 and King George of Great Britain awarded Kenly the honor of Companion of the Order of the Bath.[3]
Kenly died of a heart attack on January 10, 1928.[1] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
References
"Col. Kenly Dies Of Heart Attack. Former Chief of Air Service of American Forces in France Stricken in Washington. Won Three Decorations. Veteran Served As Director Of Military Aeronautics Before His Retirement In 1919". January 12, 1928. Retrieved 2012-10-23. "Colonel William L. Kenly, first chief of the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Forces in France and later director of military aeronautics for the duration of the war, died suddenly ..."
Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 by Arnaldo Dumindin
The Los Angeles Times, KING GEORGE HONORS OFFICER WE OUSTED, Apr 17, 1919, page 1.'
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Well, he had some variety to his career. An artilleryman in charge of the flying Corps. This wouldn't happen today in our era of specialization
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SPC Bill Bailey
At that time there was no Flying Corps, only the Balloon Corps, part of the Signals Branch. So anyone who took an interest was available for promotion or could volunteer into it. That's the case here, he had been in the Balloon Corps and so by reasoning of the time had a knowledge of flying (!). The Balloon Corps of the day used tethered balloons as artillery spotters, not free balloons that can be flown in a manner of speaking.
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