16 JUL--This Day in US Military History

2015-07-16T08:40:18-04:00

1916 – Captain Raynal Bolling commanded the 1st Aero Squadron, New York National Guard, when it was mobilized during the Mexican Border Crisis.

Using a variety of privately owned aircraft the 1st was the first flying unit organized in the Guard. Though the unit was not deployed to the border before being released from active duty in November 1916, a large number of its members, including Bolling, joined the Signal Corps Reserve (then controlling all Army aviation) prior to the U.S. entry into World War I.
During the war Bolling, now a colonel, was a leading planner of American air strategy. For instance, he determined and got approved the use of British DeHaviland’s for observation and daylight bombing missions and British Bristol’s and French Spads as America’s lead fighters.
While riding in a staff car near the front at Amiens, France on March 26, 1918, he was surprised by advancing German troops. Bolling and his driver, coming under enemy fire, jumped into a ditch, where Bolling returned fire with his pistol (the only weapon either man had). He killed a German officer and almost immediately was killed himself by another officer. His had to be one of the few pistol fights to have occurred in World War I! Bolling was posthumously awarded the French Legion of Honor and the American Distinguished Service Medal for his bold leadership and far-reaching vision of the role air power would come to play on the battlefield.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2005/07/16/july-16/

July 16

16 July1769 - Father Juñpero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, founds the first Catholic mission in California on the site of present-day San Diego. After Serra blessed his new outpost of Chr...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-07-16T08:43:14-04:00

What a great hero. Respect

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 16 at 2015 8:44 AM

2015-07-16T08:44:43-04:00

Interesting read and thanks for sharing this.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 16 at 2015 9:13 AM

2015-07-16T09:13:09-04:00

1SG Private RallyPoint Member Signal Corps, Army Reserve! HUA!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 16 at 2015 3:32 PM

2015-07-16T15:32:54-04:00

Very informative and intellectual military history.
Sweet!

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Jul 17 at 2015 6:02 PM

2015-07-17T18:02:42-04:00

...and, of course, he got an Air Force Base named for him.