Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-04-25
1t. COL. RAIDER /
HAS NOTABLE
RECORD AT 3

SOUTHER FIELD, April 25-Lieut
Col. Ira R. RAIDER, the new command
ing officer at Souther Field, who ar
rived Wednesday, has an extraordin-
airy military record, he having been
one of the few flyers to go into Next
co with Pershing, and he having or
gained the first American bombing
school in France and participated in
The st. Mlhiel and Argonne drives as
member of the First bombardment
group.
Lieut.. Colonel RAIDER is from the
Golden West. He was born in Cali
fornia July 80, 1887. He served
through the required course of in
struction at West Point, graduating
In the class of 1911, and was assign
ed to the Infantry. His first service
was with this branch of the army
and he was stationed in the Philip
pine Islands.
When the war in Europe broke out
and the United States began to be in
terested in aviation and the training
of pilots for future emergencies, Col
onel RAIDER was one of the first men
to be assigned to the Air Service He
entered the work as a student aviator
at San Diego, and applied himself to
the subject with such enthusiasm
and success as to win the rating ]. M.
A. (Junior Military Aviator) by July,
1915.
When the situation in Mexico be-
came so chaotic and General PERISH
ing led the first punitive expedition
into that country in 1916 Colonel Ra-
der was one of the few aviators who
accompanied the troops
His training and experience in this
campaign was an asset that became
exceptionally useful later. In 1917
he was picked as the representative
American aviator to go to France and
conduct training school for our
airmen who were about to take up
the arduous duties of active fighting
at the front. Colonel RAIDER organ
ICED the first American bombing
school in France and conducted it
so successfully that the next step in
his military career was a promotion
in July, 1918, to the grade of Military
Aviator This is the highest rating
given by our government to an air
man. 1t is an honor coveted by all
flyers and at the present time there
are but few men in the service of the
United States who have the distinc-
ton of writing their names, followed
by the title of Military Aviator. Col
onel RAIDER remained on duty in
France during the greater part of
the heaviest fighting and was pres
ent at the front as member of the
First Bombardment Group during the
st. Mihiel and Argonne attacks.
In October, 1918, he was relieved
from overseas duty and sent to the
United States to take command of
the bombing school at Ellington
Field, Texas The high standard Of
work accomplished by the students
of this school is matter of record
and comment among all who have
kept in touch with the achievements
of American flyers and the various
advances in their methods OF train
ing. The signing of the armistice in
November, 1918, put an end to the
heavy activities of such training
schools, except to complete the
courses of such students as had al
ready entered and the few who elect
ed to complete their aviation train
ing by advanced course in bombing.
Colonel RAIDER remained at Filing
ton in connection with the school I'M
til his present assignment as COM
manding officer at Souther Field. He
is married and will reside, with his
wife and year old son in the bunga-
low at Souther Field, which has been
occupied by the former commanding
officers of the post.