833:
903:, while knowing that the Air Corps was ill-equipped and untrained to fly in winter conditions. At the time, commercial air carriers derived stable income from carrying the U.S. mail. Allegations of a conspiracy to defraud the government in these contracts resulted in assignment of all air-mail delivery to the Air Corps, beginning on February 19, 1934, and lasting through May 17, 1934. The 1,500,000 miles (2,400,000 km) flown by the Air Corps pilots, with insufficient training, equipment, funding, and experience, resulted in numerous fatal crashes. Foulois became the middleman in a political battle between the commercial aviation owners, Congress, and the military. Foulois later wrote that the "fiasco" was just as historically significant as the
463:
446:. Humphreys made the first military solo in an airplane on October 26, 1909, followed by Lahm. Although not contractually obligated to do so, Wilbur took Foulois up and allowed him to handle the controls, then turned him over to Humphreys for instruction. Foulois totaled 3 hours and 2 minutes at the controls, virtually equaling the flight time of Humphreys and Lahm, but did not make any landings, nor did he solo. On November 5, Humphreys and Lahm cartwheeled S.C. No. 1 during landing, damaging the rudder and necessitating replacement of a wing, at a time when neither Wright brother was available. In addition, both officers were recalled to their branches of service.
151:
1090:
928:, Foulois decided to retire "for the good of the service," asserting that he did so that the focus could return to the vital task of building the Air Force in the face of a resurgence in German airpower. His retirement date coincided with the end of his four-year term as Chief of Air Corps, and existing law allowed him to retire at his temporary rank of major general. Foulois officially left active duty December 31, 1935, after 36 years of service. In spite of his remarkable career, he departed with no farewell from the General Staff, no parade, and no aircraft fly-by.
645:
683:
770:. Upon his return to the U.S. in July 1919, Foulois was assigned to the Office of the Director of Air Service at Washington, D.C., in charge of the Air Service Liquidation Division, responsible for the settlement of war claims against the United States. Just as quickly as he had been promoted to general officer rank, he was reduced along with thousands of other officers to his permanent establishment rank of captain, Infantry. He received promotion to major on July 1, 1920, when the Army Reorganization Act took effect, and transferred in grade to the
1104:
1081:
868:, which carried the rank of major general. Foulois had already appeared before Congress on 75 occasions to testify on military matters. During the next four years, he was in constant communication with Congress on the future of the Air Corps, during a time when economic hardships were forcing severe budget cuts. While this initially resulted in a solid base of support from supporters of aviation, it eventually proved a two-edged sword: when he lost their support in 1934–1935, his position as Chief of Air Corps became untenable.
666:. Foulois came from a middle-class family, and impressed his peers with his willingness to roll up his sleeves and work with the mechanics. Moreover, Mitchell had been senior to Foulois until their mutual service in France, and would be again following the war. Both played an important role in the development of the independent Air Force, but Mitchell worked by swaying public opinion, while Foulois preferred to make direct testimony to Congress, with often controversial verbal attacks against the military establishment.
115:
96:
31:
710:, and assumed additional duties as a member of the Joint Army and Navy Aircraft Committee in France; representative of the commander in chief, American Expeditionary Forces on the Inter-Allied Expert Committee on Aviation of the Supreme War Council, and commandant of the Army Aeronautical Schools. Resentment of Foulois's staff, with 112 officers and 300 enlisted men, most inexperienced and recently commissioned nonflying officers, led to strong criticism from
475:
months, Foulois modified S.C. No. 1's elevators at the instructions in correspondence from
Orville Wright, and demonstrated the use of the Wright B aircraft for aerial mapping, photography, and reconnaissance, and the use of the radio while airborne. To end the requirement of using a 60-foot launch rail to take off, he drew up plans for and installed wheels in place of skids, and equipped the S.C. No. 1 with the first seat belt, using a four-foot leather
1144:
133:
124:
174:
142:
526:, to form a provisional "aero company" created April 5, 1911, by the Maneuver Division in anticipation of training 18 more pilots. Beck, like Foulois, was dual-commissioned in the Signal Corps and being senior, took command of the company, an action that Foulois resented. Friction and mutual rivalry with the new pilots also existed because they had no experience on the Wright machine, instead being trained on the
1925:
750:
offensives in the fall. He also recommended that
Mitchell replace him as Chief of Air Service, First Army. Foulois briefly became Assistant Chief of Air Service, Zone of Advance, but that position was eliminated when the Service of Supply created a forward headquarters near the front in addition to its main headquarters in Tours, and Foulois became the Assistant Chief of Air Service, Service of Supply.
814:
it was being put to good use in
America. To my eternal regret, it wasn't. The lack of an air intelligence collection system, inexperience on the part of the military intelligence officers in regard to aeronautics, and a lack of appreciation for the potential value of the fruits of German genius caused much of the material I sent to end up unopened in a warehouse and later sent to the trash heap."
810:. After gaining the confidence of these sources, Foulois was invited to join the two top aviation organizations in Germany: the German Aeronautical Scientific Society and the Aero Club of Germany. During his time in Berlin, he met Elisabeth Shepperd Grant, a Philadelphian working as a translator in the American Embassy, and married her two weeks before his return to the United States in 1924.
356:. His experience in surveying in the Philippines led to reassignment to the chief engineer of the force to perform military mapping. He was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Signal Corps on April 30, 1908, assigned to the office of the Army's chief signal officer (CSO), Brig. Gen. James Allen, and sent to complete Signal School, which he did in July 1908. His final thesis was
721:"Just when things had begun to work smoothly, a shipment of aviation officers arrived under Brigadier General Benjamin Foulois, over one hundred in number, almost none of whom had ever seen an airplane. … As rapidly as possible, the competent men, who had learned their duties in the face of the enemy, were displaced and their positions taken by these carpetbaggers."
1166:
556:, on July 13. In October 1912, Foulois was returned to infantry troop duty under requirements of the "Manchu Law", otherwise known as the congressionally-mandated "Detached Service Law," and assigned to Fort Leavenworth with the 7th Infantry. Foulois was returned to aviation duty in November 1913, and detailed the next month to the Signal Corps Aviation School at
729:"... this extract is proof of Mitchell's disregard for facts" and "While Mitchell had every right to have an opinion about me and my staff, his attitude toward us made our jobs doubly difficult. The seeds of insubordination had already been sown when I relieved him, and his memoirs prove how distorted an opinion he had of himself as an expert on air matters."
480:
said a strap about four feet long, something I can lash myself to the seat with. That was the first safety belt invented." As the result of repeated crashes and repairs, many caused by
Foulois being "ground shy" (the result of his having no formal training in landing an airplane), S.C. No. 1 became unflyable, and in February 1911 the Army leased a
636:, for duty. On 16 March, Foulois flew as the observer with Dodd on the first American military reconnaissance flight over foreign territory (overflying Mexico in search of Villa). Within eight weeks, six of the aircraft had been destroyed, as the airplane could not contend with the high altitude, severe weather, and dry atmosphere.
961:, to allow Foulois to live at Andrews Air Force Base. In return he would tour the world as a senior spokesman to promote Air Force issues. Thus, in his eighties he traveled 500,000 miles (800,000 km) by air, emphasizing national security to the men and women of the U.S. Air Force at home and overseas.
861:, from June 1929 to July 1930. In May 1931 he commanded the Air Corps exercises, leading an armada of 672 airplanes, coast-to-coast defense flights, combat competition and large scale attacks. The leadership of this exercise earned Foulois the Mackey Trophy for the most meritorious military flight of 1931.
733:
Creation and deployment of tactical squadrons lagged badly behind the schedule
Foulois had promised Pershing, and the supply situation for the Air Service was not improving. Friction between Foulois' nonflying staff and the aviators in command of the instruction schools and the combat squadrons grew
479:
obtained from the cavalry saddlery. According to
Foulois: "The second flight I made after crashing the first time I took it up I got almost thrown out; landed; the artillery officer came up there and I told him, Fred, I wanted to get a belt to keep me in that damn plane. He said, whaddya want? and I
813:
Foulois gathered the equivalent of a railroad boxcar full of valuable documents, drawings, technical bulletins, magazines, books, blueprints and reports. By having talked with more than 180 individuals, he had a valuable collection of German aviation knowledge. However, he wrote: "I only hoped that
474:
in San
Antonio, Texas, where he was directed by CSO Allen to "teach yourself to fly." He did so, and at 9:30 a.m. on March 2, 1910, on the Arthur MacArthur parade field made four flights on S.C. No. 1, which included his first solo takeoff, first solo landing, and first crash. Over the next 15
741:
to replace
Foulois, who then became Patrick's assistant. Foulois was appointed Chief of Air Service, First Army, with Mitchell still his subordinate, made chief of Air Service I Corps. The ensuing change of command and the unceasing bitterness between the two men continued. Foulois asserted in his
534:
Foulois blamed Beck for improper repairs to the craft, and also questioned his ability to command, but the investigating board, of which both
Foulois and Beck were members, ruled that Kelly's death resulted from landing at too high a speed and striking the ground with a wingtip when he attempted a
430:
and navigator
Foulois broke previous speed, altitude, and cross-country duration records, flying at 42.5 mph, 400 feet, and for 10 miles (16 km). The Army purchased this Wright Model A Military Flyer, which became "Signal Corps No. 1". The final condition of the contract was to train two
742:
memoirs that while he felt Mitchell was openly insubordinate, disloyal to his superiors, and constantly deviating from the military chain of command in giving orders, Mitchell also possessed the ability and experience to supervise air battles and create a high fighting spirit, exemplified by the
678:
to detail plans for appropriations of $ 54 million to support 16 aero squadrons, 16 balloon companies, and nine aviation schools. The French government requested the U.S. provide 4,500 trained pilots by the spring of 1918, which would require 4,900 training aircraft and 12,000 combat planes. The
749:
Three months later, when a major loss of coordination between offensive units and replacement units occurred at Toul, Foulois again requested relief from his position, this time to again be in charge of Air Service logistics, to straighten out the snarled lines of communication before the major
871:
Coast defence had traditionally been a primary function of the Army, with the line of demarcation the range of its coast artillery guns. The range of aircraft ostensibly confused the issue and opened a competition between the Air Service and Naval Aviation for the mission, and thus for further
793:
Having stirred up Washington, Foulois heard that a military attaché was needed in Europe with aviation expertise. He was sent in April 1920 to The Hague as assistant air attache, with observer duties in Berlin. At the same time his wife asked him for a divorce, which was decreed in 1921. (Ella
734:
to the point of extreme inefficiency. In April 1918, Foulois tried to enforce a cooperative spirit from his own staff without success. In May, he requested relief from his position as Chief of Air Service and recommended to General Pershing that Mitchell should be replaced. Pershing appointed
547:
Foulois was assigned as Officer In Charge, Signal Corps and Corps of Engineers Units in the Organized Militia. On April 29, 1912 his Signal Corps commission was discharged and he was nominally returned to the Infantry, but remained with the Militia Bureau, where he was able to continue flying
1225:
to the Frear hearings. Menoher testified that in his opinion the enthusiasm of aviators for an independent air arm stemmed from a desire for personal promotion. Foulois was asked to comment and acidly defied the General Staff to produce one officer who had ever done anything constructive for
950:. When World War II broke out he would have returned to active duty if offered a combat position. When the War Department offered him only a staff job, he demurred and opted to devote his energies to New Jersey Civil Defense. He continued to write and speak for 17 years from his home in
348:, from September 1905 to August 1906. In 1907, he married Ella Snyder van Horn, the daughter of Colonel James Judson van Horn. Assigned to attend the Army Signal School in the class of 1906-1907, he was recalled to his regiment in September 1906 for duty with an expeditionary force in
304:
just weeks before the armistice was signed. As an engineer, he fought off the rampant tropical diseases, and after five months, was shipped home and mustered out. On June 17, 1899, Foulois enlisted again, using his own name, as a private in the Regular Army and was assigned to the
1755:, August 5, 1942. Accessed September 9, 2012. "Benjamin D. Foulois of Ventnor, retired Army Air Corps chieftain and civilian defense coordinator for South Jersey, was designated here tonight by Republican leaders to run for Congress in New Jersey's Second Congressional District".
442:, in September 1909 as a delegate to the International Congress of Aeronautics, possibly as a result of resentment of his outspoken criticism of the dirigible. He returned on October 23 to College Park, Maryland, where Wilbur Wright had begun training Lahm and Lieutenant
417:
spent 10 months following the fatal crash in making engineering improvements to the airplane. By July 1909, Orville was ready to complete the acceptance test for the Signal Corps. On July 30, 1909, Foulois' first flight in an aeroplane was the evaluation test flight from
539:, where its first aviation school was about to commence. Beck was ordered there as the instructor on the Curtiss machine in June, but Foulois remained on duty with the Maneuver Division until July 11, when he was reassigned to the Militia Bureau in Washington, DC.
679:
appropriation signed on July 24, 1917, was for $ 640 million, the largest for a single purpose in the history of Congress. On the same date, Foulois was promoted from major to the temporary rank of brigadier general, to enable him to oversee this responsibility.
785:
hearings on aviation during the war, and before the Senate Military Affairs Subcommittee considering the Crowell Commission report (which advocated an independent air force) in October. He testified with stinging accusations toward the Army General Staff and
669:
From March to September 1917, General Foulois was charged with the responsibility for the production, maintenance, organization, and operations of all American aeronautical material and personnel in the United States. In March, he worked with Major General
377:, and wireless air-to-ground communications that included the transmission of photographs. As a result, the CSO selected Foulois for the aeronautical board designated to conduct the 1908 airship and airplane acceptance trials. After having selected the
931:
He accurately warned of the buildup of German air power, and the need to build a strong air force and to take defensive measures to protect the East Coast. Prior to World War II, he ran New Jersey's civil defense program. In 1941, Foulois ran as a
410:, that no military future existed for lighter-than-air aircraft. In expressing this opinion to the Army General Staff, Foulois recommended no more purchases of dirigibles, the first of his many disagreements with the military establishment.
1794:
530:
biplane. On May 3, 1911, Beck crashed the Curtiss machine after its engine failed at 300 feet. A week later, flying the same airplane after its repair, Kelly was killed trying to land minutes into his qualification flight.
552:(FAI), which ruled on June 26, 1912 that he met, issuing FAI Certificate No. 140. In the meantime, the Army published its own pilot qualification standards on April 20, 1912, and Foulois became the third army pilot to be
907:
or the first air combat mission. He argued that its lasting effect helped identify the needs of the peacetime Air Corps and the Baker Board's recommendation for a GHQ Air Force, which was implemented in March 1935.
848:
was promoted to Air Corps Chief, Foulois began a four-year tour as one of the three Assistant Chiefs of the Air Corps, which carried with it a temporary rank of brigadier general, including a year as Chief of the
798:). Since the United States had not yet ratified the Treaty of Versailles, the allies would not share any intelligence with Foulois, and technically the U.S. was still at war with Germany. Foulois found that the
368:
In all future warfare, we can expect to see engagements in the air between hostile aerial fleets. The struggle for supremacy in the air will undoubtedly take place while the opposing armies are maneuvering for
572:
was officially constituted as a unit of the Signal Corps. In January 1914, the organization of the squadron was approved by the CSO and Foulois became commanding officer of its 1st Company, comprising three
381:
airship as the winner of the trial, Foulois was selected as the first military crewman. He took his first flight on August 18 as engineer-pilot, while Baldwin controlled the rudder at the aft end.
802:
bar in Berlin was frequented by many aviation cognoscenti. By sharing food and Allied whisky, Foulois was able to obtain a large amount of aviation intelligence from German pilots who included
924:
called for the resignation of Foulois and threatened to hold up Air Corps appropriations. Although he carried his fight to the public through the media with the backing of Secretary of War
1985:
707:
601:
aircraft as unsafe on February 16, 1914, and those remaining in the Army inventory were ordered to be immediately grounded. The following month, the board drew up specifications for a
577:
aircraft and 26 enlisted men. Later in 1914, Foulois became squadron commander. The Aeronautical Department experienced a spate of fatal accidents in 1912 and 1913, most involving the
455:
1097:
2025:
511:, with a ground exercise in progress. Two days later, returning from a cross-country flight, they accidentally shut off the engine, and in trying to restart it, crashed into the
916:
The 1934 Rogers Subcommittee investigation into improper contracting and procurement awards charged Foulois with violations of law in awarding contracts, mismanagement of the
246:
341:
Moros, successfully hunting down and defeating combatant tribal leaders, and as topographical officer for the regiment, participated in surveying and mapping expeditions.
470:
While waiting to repair the airplane, the Signal Corps decided to seek a more favorable climate location for flying during the winter. Foulois was directed to report to
957:
His wife Elisabeth grew very ill and Foulois had difficulty paying for her care. Generals Carl Spaatz and Ira Eaker interceded with Air Force Chief of Staff, General
662:
and Foulois clashed bitterly over the years. Both were ambitious, strong-willed, independent thinkers, but Mitchell came from a wealthy family and was the son of a
981:
Foulois had worked for 18 months with Carroll V. Glines on a biography of his life, though he died before the publicity tour could take place. The book, titled
503:". On March 3, 1911, Foulois and Parmalee made the first official military reconnaissance flight (without crossing the border), looking for Army troops between
406:, and also injured Orville Wright. After one year, Foulois had concluded through his experience, understanding of military dirigibles in Europe, and talks with
985:, was published in 1968. The biography was republished in 1980 for sale to libraries; only 400 copies were produced. A new edition of the biography, re-titled
884:
pursuit planes led Foulois and the Air Corps leadership to begin the development of long-range bombers in 1933. Without this foresight, the development of the
876:
in January 1931 gave the land-based Air Service the mission, while the Navy was to defend the fleet. Following that, the apparent invincibility of long range
632:, and Foulois was ordered to take eight airplanes to provide reconnaissance and communication. On 15 March 1916, Foulois and the 1st Aero Squadron arrived at
1258:
590:
548:
periodically at the aviation school in College Park. In July 1911, the Army adopted as its standard to be a military pilot the licensing requirements of the
1203:
Beck was senior to Foulois in rank and all other service aspects (commissioned time, infantry seniority, Signal Corps seniority) except aviation experience.
1990:
1955:
2015:
2005:
1538:
500:
2010:
1980:
402:, procured at the same time by the Army on its final test flight, September 17, 1908, claimed the first US military airplane fatality, First Lt.
996:– a direct legacy of his many career “first” milestones. He remains one of the most significant figures in the development of U.S. air power.
549:
2000:
553:
899:
of 1934. Under pressure from President Roosevelt, Foulois committed the service to delivering the mail without consulting Chief of Staff
675:
2040:
1929:
938:
832:
2030:
1132:
1789:
395:
325:. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on July 9, 1901. Foulois returned to the United States in 1902 and transferred to the
272:
pilot, and achieved numerous other military aviation "firsts". He led strategic development of the Air Force in the United States.
127:
1122:
223:
1825:
Air Mail Emergency. 1934: An Account of Seventy-Eight Tense Days in the Winter of 1934 When the Army Flew the United States Mail
1811:
581:
airplane, and convened a board of aviators to investigate safety concerns and make recommendations. Foulois, along with Captain
829:, in 1925. The same year, Billy Mitchell was convicted in a court-martial, which resulted in his resignation in February 1926.
326:
306:
1485:
1434:
759:
1995:
1254:
1960:
1802:
613:
136:
1212:
Pershing appointed Patrick to bring order to the Air Service AEF, which was described as "a tangled mess" under Foulois.
743:
1970:
1045:
1878:
1525:
1468:. General Benjamin D. Foulois' appearance with the secret: 'I was once the entire United States air force' (in 1909).
1337:
943:
933:
438:
were initially designated to take direct instruction from the Wright brothers, but the CSO instead sent Foulois to
1247:
608:
On November 19, 1915, Foulois led the 1st Aero Squadron cross-country flight of six Curtiss JN3s from Post Field,
535:
turn. In any event, the army shut down all aviation training at Fort Sam Houston and sent pilots and airplanes to
2035:
1773:
1746:
118:
2020:
1896:
1846:
1292:
1036:
771:
145:
1965:
518:
Foulois was joined in April by three students from the Curtiss Aviation School in San Diego, including Capt.
177:
1127:
762:, November 11, 1918, Foulois served with Patrick on the Supreme War Council, assisting Patrick and Colonel
462:
154:
1765:
974:. General Foulois died on April 25, 1967, following a stroke at age 87, and was buried in his hometown of
864:
On December 19, 1931, following Fechet's retirement, he was appointed Chief of the Air Corps by President
1115:
233:
205:
191:
353:
817:
After many years, Foulois achieved his desire to command a flying unit, and was assigned command of
1975:
992:
As one of the longest living of the first military pilots, Foulois saw the steps into space of the
951:
872:
development of its service. A compromise reached between the Chief of Naval Operations and General
345:
297:
201:
150:
612:, to Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, intended as the site for the first permanent base of the
1179:
975:
892:'s, essential to eventual separation of the Air Force from the Army, would not have taken place.
629:
281:
209:
82:
53:
1143:
698:
In October 1917, he was transferred to France, and had the same responsibilities in France, the
1089:
1066:
536:
443:
70:
1855:. Dayton, OH, History Office, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
1520:(USAF Historical Study No. 98), Maxwell Air Force Base: Air Force Historical Research Agency,
296:
At age 18, he used his older brother's birth certificate to enlist in the Army to support the
227:
1329:
1059:
1023:, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.) The French pronunciation of Foulois family name is "fool-wah".
787:
602:
1950:
1945:
1459:
966:
885:
767:
633:
598:
586:
489:
423:
407:
378:
8:
644:
609:
398:, where he operated the first dirigible balloon of the U.S. government. The crash of the
682:
515:. Neither was injured and the airplane was eventually repaired and returned to Collier.
1751:
1016:
691:
594:
523:
261:
1874:
1856:
1853:
The Foulois House: Its Place in the History of the Miami Valley and American Aviation
1842:
1828:
1539:"Vassar Miscellany Weekly 18 February 1916 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive"
1521:
1430:
1333:
1318:
1298:
1288:
921:
900:
873:
850:
795:
711:
656:
569:
508:
485:
807:
1171:
1149:
1103:
1080:
1052:
917:
896:
826:
763:
738:
663:
625:
582:
557:
471:
435:
403:
329:. This regiment served in the Philippines from 1903 to 1905, and Foulois served in
1891:
Jacobs, James W. (1984). National Aviation Hall of Fame (U.S.). Enshrinee Album:
1806:
1248:"Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Volume 1 – A thru L"
1222:
1041:
1032:
1007:
958:
845:
837:
717:, who commanded the Air Service Zone of Advance. In his memoirs, Mitchell wrote:
687:
574:
414:
265:
250:
993:
971:
865:
782:
714:
659:
578:
481:
427:
399:
374:
309:, where he ultimately achieved the rank of first sergeant, with service in the
114:
1867:
From the Wright Brothers to the Astronauts: The Memoirs of Benjamin D. Foulois
1320:
From the Wright Brothers to the Astronauts: The Memoirs of Benjamin D. Foulois
1939:
1904:
The Army Air Arm in Transition: General Benjamin D. Foulois and the Air Corps
947:
818:
735:
699:
671:
504:
439:
101:
1302:
1602:
904:
858:
854:
617:
519:
476:
1870:
1860:
1799:
1325:
925:
881:
877:
822:
799:
649:
496:
310:
301:
213:
1832:
488:. Because Foulois was unfamiliar with the type, the Wright Company sent
264:
general who learned to fly the first military planes purchased from the
30:
803:
775:
621:
565:
512:
338:
495:
In early 1911, the United States gathered much of the Regular Army in
364:, within which he demonstrated prescience in such statements as this:
1790:"Air Force Link Biography of Major General Benjamin Delahauf Foulois"
561:
527:
454:
419:
466:
Lt. Benjamin Foulois and his instructor pilot Phillip Parmelee, 1910
334:
280:
Benjamin "Benny" Delahauf Foulois was born on December 9, 1879, in
132:
123:
1626:
The Army and its Air Corps: Army Policy Toward Aviation 1919-1941
359:
269:
173:
141:
1599:
Memoirs of World War I: From Start to Finish of Our Greatest War
1058:
The Benjamin D. Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy in
384:
1924:
652:(left) with Brigadier General Benjamin Foulois in France, 1918.
330:
285:
1766:"Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement"
1471:
1096:
703:
318:
314:
499:
as a show of force to Mexican revolutionaries, forming the "
373:
He forecast the replacement of the horse by the airplane in
1424:
889:
349:
322:
245:
1465:
920:, and making misleading statements to Congress. Chairman
1518:
The United States Army Air Arm, April 1861 to April 1917
970:, where his secret was that he had once been the entire
2026:
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
1986:
American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
1065:
General Foulois received the Golden Plate Award of the
1221:
Foulois accompanied Director of Air Service Maj. Gen.
964:
In 1963, Foulois appeared on the television quiz show
1257:. pp. 604–608. USAF historical studies: no. 91.
937:
394:
Foulois' first aviation assignment was duty with the
1315:
1161:
895:
Foulois served as Chief of the Air Corps during the
344:
Foulois attended the Infantry and Cavalry School at
337:, where he participated in engagements against the
1906:. 1931–1935. Ann Arbor, Ml, University Microfilms.
1795:"Benjamin Foulois: National Aviation Hall of Fame"
1317:
1239:
836:Brig. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois (left), Maj. Gen.
753:
624:and killed 17 Americans. In response, Brig. Gen.
1937:
1913:. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History.
1911:Foulois and the U.S. Army Air Corps, 1931–1935
385:Aviation duty with the Signal Corps 1908–1916
268:. He became the first military aviator as an
1316:Foulois, Benjamin D.; Glines, C. V. (1968).
781:In August 1919, Foulois appeared before the
239:Congressional Air Force Medal of Recognition
1865:Foulois, Benjamin D., Glines, C. V. (1968)
1839:Quadrangle: The History of Fort Sam Houston
1812:"Baseball stunt with Foulois and Babe Ruth"
1429:. Harrisburg: Stackpole Books. p. 27.
1051:The Foulois House is a lodging facility on
999:
676:National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
597:, condemned not just the Wright C, but all
1991:United States Army generals of World War I
1888:. Washington, Office of Air Force History.
983:From the Wright Brothers to the Astronauts
260:(December 9, 1879 – April 25, 1967) was a
29:
1956:19th-century United States Army personnel
1425:Cragg, Sgt. Maj. USA (Ret.), Dan (1983).
794:Foulois later became the wife of General
708:Air Service, American Expeditionary Force
291:
284:, to a Franco-American pipe-fitter and a
2016:National Aviation Hall of Fame inductees
2006:Military aviation leaders of World War I
1596:
831:
681:
643:
461:
458:Lieutenant Benjamin Foulois, Texas, 1911
453:
396:Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
389:
244:
1483:
1477:
1245:
939:New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
790:, the assistant Secretary of the Navy.
706:. In November 1917, he became Chief of
686:Benjamin Foulois with Secretary of War
616:, the San Antonio Air Center. In 1916,
2011:United States Army Air Forces generals
1981:Members of the Early Birds of Aviation
1938:
550:Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
358:The Tactical and Strategical Value of
1886:Makers of the United States Air Force
1282:
1035:Foulois was enshrined in 1963 in the
542:
2001:People from Ventnor City, New Jersey
1287:. Pentland Press, Inc. p. 134.
1264:from the original on August 31, 2021
1255:Air Force Historical Research Agency
16:Early United States military aviator
1427:The Guide to Military Installations
1004:Asked how to say his name, he told
128:Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps
13:
1827:. Freeport, ME, Bond Wheelwright.
1817:
1516:Hennessy, Dr. Juliette A. (1958).
1046:Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
14:
2052:
1917:
362:and Aerodynamical Flying Machines
2031:American aviation record holders
1923:
1851:Cornelisse, Diana Good. (1992).
1464:. July 1, 1963. 11 minutes in.
1283:Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998).
1164:
1142:
1123:Army Distinguished Service Medal
1102:
1095:
1088:
1079:
449:
172:
149:
140:
131:
122:
113:
94:
2041:United States military attachés
1884:Frisbee, John L. (Ed.) (1987).
1823:Borden, Norman E., Jr. (1968).
1774:American Academy of Achievement
1758:
1747:"Foulois to Seek Congress Seat"
1739:
1730:
1721:
1712:
1703:
1694:
1685:
1676:
1667:
1658:
1649:
1640:
1631:
1618:
1609:
1590:
1581:
1572:
1563:
1554:
1545:
1531:
1510:
1452:
1443:
1418:
1409:
1400:
1215:
1206:
1197:
1067:American Academy of Achievement
1897:National Aviation Hall of Fame
1628:, Air University Press, p. 19.
1391:
1382:
1373:
1364:
1355:
1346:
1309:
1276:
1037:National Aviation Hall of Fame
840:and Brig. Gen. H. Conger Pratt
754:Rise to Chief of the Air Corps
639:
146:United States Army Air Service
137:Aviation Section, Signal Corps
1:
1783:
918:Army Air Corps Mail Operation
911:
766:draft the air clauses of the
275:
189:Chief of the Air Service, AEF
1800:"Benjamin D. Foulois school"
1185:
1128:Mexican Border Service Medal
1055:, Texas, named in his honor.
155:United States Army Air Corps
119:Infantry, United States Army
7:
1996:United States Army generals
1841:. Austin, TX, Eakin Press.
1624:Tate, Dr. James P. (1998).
1246:Fogerty, Robert P. (1953).
1157:
1044:Foulois is a member of the
880:bombers against the slower
774:, which the act had made a
674:, who was the CSO, and the
234:Order of the Crown of Italy
224:Distinguished Service Medal
10:
2057:
1961:American military aviators
1893:The First Twenty-One Years
1837:Cagle, Eldon, Jr. (1985).
1597:Mitchell, William (1960).
987:Foulois: One-Man Air Force
1971:Aviators from Connecticut
1930:Benjamin Delahauf Foulois
1484:Correll, John T. (2007).
1133:World War I Victory Medal
1114:
1078:
1026:
744:battle of Chateau-Thierry
354:Second Occupation of Cuba
258:Benjamin Delahauf Foulois
219:
197:
183:
168:
160:
107:
89:
77:
60:
40:
28:
23:Benjamin Delahauf Foulois
21:
1909:Shiner, John F. (1984).
1902:Shiner, John F. (1975).
1486:"The First of the Force"
1062:, is named in his honor.
1021:What's the Name, Please?
1000:Pronunciation of Foulois
952:Ventnor City, New Jersey
660:William "Billy" Mitchell
630:pursue Villa into Mexico
554:rated a military aviator
346:Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
102:United States of America
1180:Early Birds of Aviation
976:Washington, Connecticut
844:In December 1927, when
434:Foulois and Lieutenant
282:Washington, Connecticut
228:French LĂ©gion d'honneur
210:Pancho Villa Expedition
206:Philippine–American War
83:Washington, Connecticut
54:Washington, Connecticut
2036:New Jersey Republicans
942:, losing to four-term
841:
731:
723:
695:
653:
537:College Park, Maryland
467:
459:
444:Frederick E. Humphreys
371:
292:Early military service
254:
187:Chief of the Air Corps
71:Andrews Air Force Base
2021:Mackay Trophy winners
1474:on February 26, 2019.
1060:Morningside, Maryland
835:
788:Franklin D. Roosevelt
727:
719:
685:
664:United States Senator
647:
465:
457:
400:Wright Military Flyer
390:Aeronautical Division
366:
248:
161:Years of service
1966:American balloonists
1932:at Wikimedia Commons
1528:OCLC 12553968, p. 47
768:Treaty of Versailles
725:Foulois responded:
634:Columbus, New Mexico
587:Walter R. Taliaferro
424:Alexandria, Virginia
379:Thomas Scott Baldwin
298:Spanish–American War
202:Spanish–American War
1770:www.achievement.org
989:, emerged in 2010.
610:Fort Sill, Oklahoma
605:training airplane.
591:Carleton G. Chapman
404:Thomas E. Selfridge
35:Benjamin D. Foulois
1805:2012-09-18 at the
1752:The New York Times
1493:Air Force Magazine
1116:Senior Pilot Badge
1017:Charles Earle Funk
1013:to cloy: foo-loy'.
842:
783:Frear subcommittee
696:
692:Issoudun Aerodrome
654:
603:tractor-configured
595:Joseph E. Carberry
543:Return to aviation
524:George E. M. Kelly
490:Philip O. Parmalee
468:
460:
360:Dirigible Balloons
262:United States Army
255:
1928:Media related to
1461:I've Got A Secret
1436:978-0-8117-2169-1
1285:Generals in Khaki
1138:
1137:
1110:
1109:
967:I've Got a Secret
922:William N. Rogers
901:Douglas MacArthur
874:Douglas MacArthur
851:Materiel Division
796:Harry Gore Bishop
712:Brigadier General
657:Brigadier General
570:1st Aero Squadron
509:Eagle Pass, Texas
501:Maneuver Division
333:, Cottabato, and
300:, but arrived in
243:
242:
192:1st Aero Squadron
2048:
1927:
1778:
1777:
1762:
1756:
1743:
1737:
1736:Foulois, p. 265.
1734:
1728:
1727:Foulois, p. 261.
1725:
1719:
1718:Foulois, p. 260.
1716:
1710:
1709:Foulois, p. 229.
1707:
1701:
1700:Foulois, p. 214.
1698:
1692:
1691:Foulois, p. 194.
1689:
1683:
1682:Foulois, p. 191.
1680:
1674:
1673:Foulois, p. 188.
1671:
1665:
1664:Foulois, p. 185.
1662:
1656:
1655:Foulois, p. 176.
1653:
1647:
1646:Foulois, p. 175.
1644:
1638:
1637:Foulois, p. 171.
1635:
1629:
1622:
1616:
1615:Foulois, p. 161.
1613:
1607:
1606:
1594:
1588:
1587:Foulois, p. 160.
1585:
1579:
1578:Foulois, p. 157.
1576:
1570:
1569:Foulois, p. 146.
1567:
1561:
1560:Foulois, p. 141.
1558:
1552:
1551:Foulois, p. 129.
1549:
1543:
1542:
1535:
1529:
1514:
1508:
1507:
1505:
1504:
1490:
1481:
1475:
1469:
1456:
1450:
1447:
1441:
1440:
1422:
1416:
1413:
1407:
1404:
1398:
1395:
1389:
1386:
1380:
1377:
1371:
1368:
1362:
1359:
1353:
1350:
1344:
1343:
1323:
1313:
1307:
1306:
1280:
1274:
1273:
1271:
1269:
1263:
1252:
1243:
1227:
1219:
1213:
1210:
1204:
1201:
1174:
1172:Biography portal
1169:
1168:
1167:
1150:Legion of Honour
1146:
1112:
1111:
1106:
1099:
1092:
1083:
1076:
1075:
1053:Fort Sam Houston
941:
897:Air Mail scandal
778:, on August 11.
764:Edgar S. Gorrell
739:Mason M. Patrick
694:in February 1918
628:was directed to
626:John J. Pershing
614:Aviation Section
585:and Lieutenants
583:Townsend F. Dodd
528:Curtiss Military
472:Fort Sam Houston
249:Lt. Foulois and
176:
153:
144:
135:
126:
117:
109:
100:
98:
97:
67:
51:December 9, 1879
50:
48:
33:
19:
18:
2056:
2055:
2051:
2050:
2049:
2047:
2046:
2045:
1976:Wright brothers
1936:
1935:
1920:
1820:
1818:Further reading
1807:Wayback Machine
1786:
1781:
1764:
1763:
1759:
1744:
1740:
1735:
1731:
1726:
1722:
1717:
1713:
1708:
1704:
1699:
1695:
1690:
1686:
1681:
1677:
1672:
1668:
1663:
1659:
1654:
1650:
1645:
1641:
1636:
1632:
1623:
1619:
1614:
1610:
1595:
1591:
1586:
1582:
1577:
1573:
1568:
1564:
1559:
1555:
1550:
1546:
1537:
1536:
1532:
1515:
1511:
1502:
1500:
1488:
1482:
1478:
1470:Rebroadcast on
1458:
1457:
1453:
1449:Foulois, p. 74.
1448:
1444:
1437:
1423:
1419:
1415:Foulois, p. 70.
1414:
1410:
1406:Foulois, p. 65.
1405:
1401:
1397:Foulois, p. 59.
1396:
1392:
1388:Foulois, p. 56.
1387:
1383:
1379:Foulois, p. 50.
1378:
1374:
1370:Foulois, p. 44.
1369:
1365:
1361:Foulois, p. 37.
1360:
1356:
1352:Foulois, p. 25.
1351:
1347:
1340:
1314:
1310:
1295:
1281:
1277:
1267:
1265:
1261:
1250:
1244:
1240:
1231:
1230:
1223:Charles Menoher
1220:
1216:
1211:
1207:
1202:
1198:
1188:
1170:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1153:
1147:
1073:
1029:
1008:Literary Digest
1002:
959:Thomas D. White
914:
846:James E. Fechet
838:James E. Fechet
756:
688:Newton D. Baker
642:
545:
522:and Second Lt.
452:
415:Wright brothers
392:
387:
294:
278:
266:Wright brothers
238:
237:(Grand Officer)
236:
232:
230:
226:
212:
208:
204:
190:
188:
148:
139:
130:
121:
95:
93:
85:
78:Place of burial
69:
65:
52:
46:
44:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2054:
2044:
2043:
2038:
2033:
2028:
2023:
2018:
2013:
2008:
2003:
1998:
1993:
1988:
1983:
1978:
1973:
1968:
1963:
1958:
1953:
1948:
1934:
1933:
1919:
1918:External links
1916:
1915:
1914:
1907:
1900:
1895:. Dayton, OH,
1889:
1882:
1863:
1849:
1835:
1819:
1816:
1815:
1814:
1809:
1797:
1792:
1785:
1782:
1780:
1779:
1757:
1738:
1729:
1720:
1711:
1702:
1693:
1684:
1675:
1666:
1657:
1648:
1639:
1630:
1617:
1608:
1589:
1580:
1571:
1562:
1553:
1544:
1530:
1509:
1476:
1451:
1442:
1435:
1417:
1408:
1399:
1390:
1381:
1372:
1363:
1354:
1345:
1338:
1308:
1293:
1275:
1237:
1236:
1235:
1229:
1228:
1214:
1205:
1195:
1194:
1193:
1192:
1187:
1184:
1183:
1182:
1176:
1175:
1159:
1156:
1155:
1154:
1148:
1141:
1136:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1119:
1118:
1108:
1107:
1100:
1093:
1085:
1084:
1071:
1070:
1063:
1056:
1049:
1039:
1028:
1025:
1001:
998:
994:Apollo Program
972:U.S. Air Force
913:
910:
866:Herbert Hoover
808:Hermann Göring
755:
752:
715:Billy Mitchell
641:
638:
579:Wright Model C
544:
541:
486:Robert Collier
482:Wright Model B
451:
448:
428:Orville Wright
391:
388:
386:
383:
375:reconnaissance
293:
290:
277:
274:
251:Orville Wright
241:
240:
221:
217:
216:
199:
195:
194:
185:
181:
180:
170:
166:
165:
162:
158:
157:
111:
105:
104:
91:
87:
86:
81:
79:
75:
74:
68:(aged 87)
64:April 25, 1967
62:
58:
57:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2053:
2042:
2039:
2037:
2034:
2032:
2029:
2027:
2024:
2022:
2019:
2017:
2014:
2012:
2009:
2007:
2004:
2002:
1999:
1997:
1994:
1992:
1989:
1987:
1984:
1982:
1979:
1977:
1974:
1972:
1969:
1967:
1964:
1962:
1959:
1957:
1954:
1952:
1949:
1947:
1944:
1943:
1941:
1931:
1926:
1922:
1921:
1912:
1908:
1905:
1901:
1898:
1894:
1890:
1887:
1883:
1880:
1879:0-405-12211-X
1876:
1872:
1868:
1864:
1862:
1858:
1854:
1850:
1848:
1844:
1840:
1836:
1834:
1830:
1826:
1822:
1821:
1813:
1810:
1808:
1804:
1801:
1798:
1796:
1793:
1791:
1788:
1787:
1775:
1771:
1767:
1761:
1754:
1753:
1748:
1742:
1733:
1724:
1715:
1706:
1697:
1688:
1679:
1670:
1661:
1652:
1643:
1634:
1627:
1621:
1612:
1604:
1600:
1593:
1584:
1575:
1566:
1557:
1548:
1540:
1534:
1527:
1526:0-912799-34-X
1523:
1519:
1513:
1498:
1494:
1487:
1480:
1473:
1467:
1463:
1462:
1455:
1446:
1438:
1432:
1428:
1421:
1412:
1403:
1394:
1385:
1376:
1367:
1358:
1349:
1341:
1339:0-405-12211-X
1335:
1331:
1327:
1322:
1321:
1312:
1304:
1300:
1296:
1290:
1286:
1279:
1260:
1256:
1249:
1242:
1238:
1233:
1232:
1224:
1218:
1209:
1200:
1196:
1190:
1189:
1181:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1162:
1151:
1145:
1140:
1139:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1117:
1113:
1105:
1101:
1098:
1094:
1091:
1087:
1086:
1082:
1077:
1074:
1068:
1064:
1061:
1057:
1054:
1050:
1047:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1034:
1031:
1030:
1024:
1022:
1018:
1014:
1011:"Rhymes with
1010:
1009:
997:
995:
990:
988:
984:
979:
977:
973:
969:
968:
962:
960:
955:
953:
949:
948:Elmer H. Wene
945:
940:
935:
929:
927:
923:
919:
909:
906:
902:
898:
893:
891:
887:
883:
879:
875:
869:
867:
862:
860:
856:
852:
847:
839:
834:
830:
828:
824:
820:
819:Mitchel Field
815:
811:
809:
805:
801:
797:
791:
789:
784:
779:
777:
773:
769:
765:
761:
751:
747:
745:
740:
737:
736:Major General
730:
726:
722:
718:
716:
713:
709:
705:
701:
700:British Isles
693:
689:
684:
680:
677:
673:
672:George Squier
667:
665:
661:
658:
651:
646:
637:
635:
631:
627:
623:
620:crossed into
619:
615:
611:
606:
604:
600:
596:
592:
588:
584:
580:
576:
571:
567:
563:
559:
555:
551:
540:
538:
532:
529:
525:
521:
516:
514:
510:
506:
502:
498:
493:
492:to instruct.
491:
487:
483:
478:
473:
464:
456:
450:Duty in Texas
447:
445:
441:
440:Nancy, France
437:
436:Frank P. Lahm
432:
429:
425:
421:
416:
411:
409:
405:
401:
397:
382:
380:
376:
370:
365:
363:
361:
355:
351:
347:
342:
340:
336:
332:
328:
327:17th Infantry
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
307:19th Infantry
303:
299:
289:
288:-born nurse.
287:
283:
273:
271:
267:
263:
259:
252:
247:
235:
229:
225:
222:
218:
215:
211:
207:
203:
200:
196:
193:
186:
182:
179:
178:Major General
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
156:
152:
147:
143:
138:
134:
129:
125:
120:
116:
112:
106:
103:
92:
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
63:
59:
55:
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
1910:
1903:
1892:
1885:
1869:. New York,
1866:
1852:
1838:
1824:
1769:
1760:
1750:
1741:
1732:
1723:
1714:
1705:
1696:
1687:
1678:
1669:
1660:
1651:
1642:
1633:
1625:
1620:
1611:
1603:Random House
1601:. New York:
1598:
1592:
1583:
1574:
1565:
1556:
1547:
1533:
1517:
1512:
1501:. Retrieved
1496:
1492:
1479:
1460:
1454:
1445:
1426:
1420:
1411:
1402:
1393:
1384:
1375:
1366:
1357:
1348:
1324:. New York:
1319:
1311:
1284:
1278:
1266:. Retrieved
1241:
1217:
1208:
1199:
1072:
1020:
1012:
1005:
1003:
991:
986:
982:
980:
965:
963:
956:
930:
915:
905:first flight
894:
870:
863:
859:Dayton, Ohio
855:Wright Field
843:
816:
812:
792:
780:
757:
748:
732:
728:
724:
720:
697:
668:
655:
618:Pancho Villa
607:
568:, where the
558:North Island
546:
533:
520:Paul W. Beck
517:
494:
469:
433:
412:
393:
372:
367:
357:
343:
295:
279:
257:
256:
198:Battles/wars
66:(1967-04-25)
1951:1967 deaths
1946:1879 births
1871:McGraw-Hill
1326:McGraw-Hill
1268:November 9,
926:George Dern
882:Boeing P-12
878:Martin B-10
823:Long Island
800:Adlon Hotel
772:Air Service
650:Ralph Royce
648:Then Major
640:World War I
497:South Texas
408:Tom Baldwin
369:position...
352:during the
311:Philippines
302:Puerto Rico
231:(Commander)
214:World War I
1940:Categories
1847:0890154635
1784:References
1503:2012-05-31
1328:. p.
1294:1571970886
946:incumbent
944:Democratic
934:Republican
912:Retirement
804:Ernst Udet
776:combat arm
758:After the
622:New Mexico
566:California
513:Rio Grande
339:Lake Lanao
276:Early life
90:Allegiance
47:1879-12-09
1234:Citations
1226:aviation.
1191:Footnotes
1186:Footnotes
760:Armistice
562:San Diego
420:Fort Myer
164:1898–1935
1861:25648580
1803:Archived
1499:(August)
1303:40298151
1259:Archived
1158:See also
1069:in 1965.
827:New York
599:"pusher"
431:pilots.
426:. Pilot
335:Mindanao
184:Commands
108:Service/
1833:3352697
1745:Staff.
1042:General
1033:General
888:'s and
690:at the
575:Burgess
270:airship
253:in 1909
1877:
1859:
1845:
1831:
1524:
1433:
1336:
1301:
1291:
1027:Legacy
702:, and
593:, and
505:Laredo
331:Manila
321:, and
286:Boston
220:Awards
110:branch
99:
73:, U.S.
56:, U.S.
1489:(PDF)
1472:Buzzr
1262:(PDF)
1251:(PDF)
1152:medal
704:Italy
484:from
477:cinch
319:Panay
315:Luzon
1875:ISBN
1857:OCLC
1843:ISBN
1829:OCLC
1522:ISBN
1431:ISBN
1334:ISBN
1299:OCLC
1289:ISBN
1270:2021
1006:The
936:for
890:B-24
886:B-17
806:and
507:and
413:The
350:Cuba
323:Cebu
169:Rank
61:Died
41:Born
1466:CBS
1015:" (
853:at
422:to
313:on
1942::
1873:.
1772:.
1768:.
1749:,
1497:90
1495:.
1491:.
1332:.
1330:12
1297:.
1253:.
1019:,
978:.
954:.
857:,
825:,
821:,
746:.
589:,
564:,
560:,
317:,
1899:.
1881:.
1776:.
1605:.
1541:.
1506:.
1439:.
1342:.
1305:.
1272:.
1048:.
49:)
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.