14 APR--This Day in US Military History

2015-04-14T10:32:34-04:00

1918 – Six days after being assigned for the first time to the western front, two American pilots from the U.S. First Aero Squadron engaged in America’s first aerial dogfight with enemy aircraft.

In a battle fought almost directly over the Allied Squadron Aerodome at Toul, France, U.S. fliers Douglas Campbell and Alan Winslow succeeded in shooting down two German two-seaters. By the end of May, Campbell had shot down five enemy aircraft, making him the first American to qualify as a “flying ace” in World War I.
The First Aero Squadron, organized in 1914 after the outbreak of World War I, undertook its first combat mission on March 19, 1917, in support of the 7,000 U.S. troops that invaded Mexico to capture Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. Despite numerous mechanical and navigational problems, the American fliers flew hundreds of scouting missions for U.S. Brigadier General John J. Pershing and gained important experience that would later be used over the battlefields of Europe in World War I.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/april-14/

April 14

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Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 14 at 2015 10:36 AM

2015-04-14T10:36:55-04:00

Pioneers on the edge of military innovation.

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made Apr 14 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-04-14T11:17:18-04:00

Imagine flying by the seat of your pants back then. Open cockpit, wooden biplane with cables everywhere flying by the seat of your pants. And then we will start shooting at each other. Unbelievable courage, to the point of recklessness almost. Awesome. Thanks 1SG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 11:58 AM

2015-04-14T11:58:18-04:00

What the pioneers in aviation accomplished is simply amazing. I cannot fathom the courage and ingenuity that early aviation pioneers possessed. It blows me away to think we went from first flight to the moon in less than 70 years is awe inspiring!

Response by PO3 Lori Brummer made Apr 15 at 2015 1:02 PM

2015-04-15T13:02:02-04:00

Thank you so much for the wonderful history lesson and background detailing the pioneers of military aviation. Really interesting, who would have thought that Pancho Villa would play into the scenario?