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419:. However the next day Orville Wright took an interest in Milling and went up with him. On May 8, after just one hour and fifty-four minutes of flying time, Wright authorized Milling to go up alone, and he made his first solo flight. Milling landed in an unorthodox downward spiral, alarming onlookers that included Wright, Turpin, and Arnold, but appeared in control the entire time, and the Wrights included a modified maneuver in future instruction. Milling flew daily for six weeks, except in bad weather, mastering takeoffs, landings, turns, and rudimentary maneuvers.
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534:, and San Diego. In August 1914, Milling accompanied the U.S. Relief Commission to Europe to assist in the repatriation of Americans stranded in war-torn Europe. In March 1916, he was again detailed to the Office of the Chief Signal Officer and promoted twice (to captain July 31, 1916, and to
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Joint
Intelligence Sub-Committee and later was a member of the Joint Intelligence Staff in the office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, until December 1943, when he returned to the War Department Decorations Board, serving until March 1946. Milling again retired on July 24, 1946.
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Milling returned from France in
January 1919 and served in a variety of assignments for the next seven years: assistant chief, Training and Operations Group, including president of a board to determine all aerial laws, rules and regulations, (January 1919 to June 1920); officer in charge,
329:(FAI) pilot certificate No. 30 on July 6, 1911. Although Milling was not the first U.S. Army aviator, he was the first to receive Military Aviator Certificate No. 1 on July 5, 1912. Milling also received the first badge awarded to an American military aviator in October 1913.
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at Fort
Leavenworth. Graduating in June 1927, he was assigned to the War Plans Section, Office of Chief of the Air Corps in Washington, D.C., where his duties were mainly administrative in connection with war planning and legislation. In June 1930, Milling was sent to the
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on March 16, 1942, to serve on the War
Department Decorations Board in Washington, D.C., and was promoted to lieutenant colonel April 27, 1942, and to colonel September 24, 1942. In December 1942, he served as the air representative on the
570:(July 1920 to June 1922); assistant commandant, Air Service Tactical School, Langley Field (June 1922 to January 1925); operations officer, Second Bombardment Wing, Langley Field (January to June 1925); and Air Service Engineering School,
453:, until a fatal crash in May, 1911 resulted in the banning of further flights there. The company relocated to College Park, where Milling became the only aviator able to master the significantly different flight controls of each type.
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authorized by the War
Department. On May 2, 1913, he was recognized by General Order 39 as one of the original 24 military aviators, and on October 15, 1913, he and Chandler received the first badges awarded to wear on the uniform.
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Only a few months after learning to fly, Milling entered and won the Tri-State
Biplane Race against a field of experienced fliers. Flying a course that went from
438:, in operating the Wright airplane. The school officially opened on July 3, 1911, and taught ten students, including two members of the National Guard.
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without the use of a compass. It was also his first night flight, with several large bonfires providing guidance to the landing field.
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on
November 26, 1960. Although Milling never actively served as a general officer, he was advanced on the retired list to the rank of
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August 5, 1917). In August 1917, he was placed in charge of Air
Service Training in Europe, and in October 1918 succeeded
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and back to Boston, a total of 175 miles, the cross-country race was the longest of its era. Milling flew it in a
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Thomas DeWitt
Milling Document Collection, Biographical Note; Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Archives
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On July 23, 1914, Milling was promoted to first lieutenant and served again as a flying instructor, at
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Hap: the Story of the U.S. Air Force and the Man Who Built It, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold
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The Army, in addition to the Wright biplane, had also purchased an aircraft manufactured by
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Milling began his training on May 3, 1911, under the tutelage of Wright instructor
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were the first army aviators to perform an aerial combat reconnaissance mission.
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to "aeronautical duty with the Signal Corps," and instructed them to "proceed to
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Milling's instructor assignments included the
Signals Corps Aviation School at
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to serve as an Air Corps instructor. In September 1931, he served briefly at
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On July 5, 1912, Milling, along with Arnold and Chandler, received the first
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294:(July 31, 1887 – November 26, 1960) was a pioneer of military aviation and a
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The Signal Corps' First Air Installations and First Military Aviator Rating
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General Milling has been awarded a number of decorations, including the
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Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force
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Special Order 95, dated April 21, 1911, assigned Milling and 2d Lt.
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on June 15, 1905. He graduated on June 11, 1909, with the degree of
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to instruct the commander of the division flight school, Captain
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After completing their training, Milling and Arnold reported to
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United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
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Milling sitting at the controls of a biplane before 1913
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Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
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Honorary officers of the Order of the British Empire
57:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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341:Robert E. Milling and the former Ida Roberts in
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756:. Washington. AP. November 27, 1960. p. 3
410:National Museum of the United States Air Force
748:"Veteran Pilot, Taught By Wright, Dies at 73"
657:, degree of Honorary Officer; Officer of the
621:, Milling was recalled to active duty as a
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726:. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 15.
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274:Officer of the Order of the British Empire
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723:The United States Air Force: A Chronology
321:He received his flight training from the
117:Learn how and when to remove this message
789:Thomas DeWitt Milling; earlyaviators.com
578:, completing the course in August 1926.
428:Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
385:Milling reported to the 15th Cavalry at
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55:adding citations to reliable sources
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542:as chief of the Air Service of the
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560:Air Service Field Officers' School
147:Thomas DeWitt Milling as a colonel
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854:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
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668:Milling was also a member of the
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864:Knights of the Legion of Honour
819:American people of World War II
278:Officer of the Order of Leopold
42:needs additional citations for
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363:United States Military Academy
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720:Fredriksen, John C. (2011).
636:Walter Reed General Hospital
548:American Expeditionary Force
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764:– via Newspapers.com.
691:Nalty, Bernard C., editor,
655:Order of the British Empire
647:Distinguished Service Medal
603:Fitzsimons General Hospital
266:Distinguished Service Medal
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481:Military Aviator rating
308:United States Air Force
628:United States Congress
424:College Park, Maryland
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306:in the history of the
753:The Bellingham Herald
688:, Viking Press (1982)
462:Nashua, New Hampshire
458:Boston, Massachusetts
357:. He was appointed a
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292:Thomas DeWitt Milling
223:Years of service
135:Thomas DeWitt Milling
18:Thomas DeWitt Milling
613:World War II service
337:Milling was born to
182:Walter Reed Hospital
166:Winnfield, Louisiana
51:improve this article
684:Coffey, Thomas M.,
369:and commissioned a
367:Bachelor of Science
302:. He was the first
300:U.S. Army Air Corps
66:"Thomas D. Milling"
676:Additional sources
599:Rockwell Air Depot
550:, and promoted to
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495:Career assignments
426:, detailed to the
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217:United States Army
829:American aviators
733:978-1-59884-682-9
653:; Most Excellent
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809:1960 deaths
804:1887 births
634:He died at
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304:rated pilot
252:World War I
798:Categories
707:References
521:California
505:Texas City
188:Allegiance
159:1887-07-31
77:newspapers
760:August 9,
661:; French
517:San Diego
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280:(Belgium)
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695:(1997),
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568:Virginia
351:Franklin
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