Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
FOULO|S PROBABLE
HEAD OF AIR CORPS
Only Fight Against Him
Looms From Pointers, Who
Back Brig. Gen. Pratt.
BY JOSEPH s. EDGERToN.

The success of Brig. Gen. Benjamin
D. Foulois, the F,tion's first military
pilot, in conducting the recent maneu-
vers Of the 1st Air Division has put
him in a leading position for appoint
ment as chief Of the Army Air Corps
to succeed Maj. Gen, James E. Fechet
when the latter's appointment expires
next December.
The only fight against Gen. Foulois,
1t is believed, will center around the
fact that he is not a West Pointer, but
like Gen. Fechet has risen from the
ranks. Those in the service who In
sist upon the appointment of Military
Academy graduates are backing Brig.
Gen. Henry C. Pratt, a graduate Of the
academy, now in command OF the Air
Corps materiel division at Wright
Field, Dayton, Ohio.
Benny" Foulois today stands out In
the eyes of the world as one Of the
most colorful figures In the United
States Army and is regarded by Air
Corps officers as having a more thor
ough practical knowledge Of military
aviation than any other ofdcer In the
Army has.
Fechet May Ask Line Post.
Almost as much interest Is felt in
che Air Corps over the future of Gen.
of the Air Corps next Winter as is
manifested over the appointment of
his successor. Though Gen. Fechet
has had 80 years of service and is
eligible for retirement If he chooses to
request it, he Is understood to be seek
ang appointment as brigadier general
OF the line.
Persistent failure Of the Army general
staff to select ranking Air Corps on
GERS for appointment as generals Of
the line to fill vacancies which have
occurred since the Air Corps became
an important branch Of the Army Is
felt keenly by the Air Corps Ulcers.
The fact that general officers on the
staff in Washington and the command
ing generals of the corps areas, who
are generals of the line and who
possess authority to employ Air Corps
units, have no real first hand knowledge
Of the Air Corps is regarded by the run
OF Air Corps personnel as an unfavor-
able situation.
Pilots Plane at 81.
Gen Foulois has occupied the world
stage during the life of the division
which he led. Yet in the Regular
Army he ranks only as a lieutenant
COionel dlo as Tie uA14 0SuISAdaI
colonel.
There is q feeling in the Air Corps
that in assuming command Of the LIST
Air Division, Gen. Foulois staked his
whole reputation in the Army on the
success or failure Of the maneuvers
which recently were concluded.
Gen. Foulois, though he Is 81 years
old, ranks as one of the great Air
Corps pilots and invariably flies his
own plane. During the maneuverS he
flew his own plane from start to finish,
carrying only an enlisted mechanic
with him. He warmed the hearts of
his friends at the outset CT the ma
neuvers by flying across the Allie
gheny Mountains in dangerously thick
flying weather, leaving behind him 20
other younger pilots who were forced
down or compelled to return to their
starting points. 1t is characteristic of
Gen. Foulois that he later apolc gized
publicly for flying through and leaving
his juniors behind, explaining that he
had the benefit Of the finest flying
instruments and that they showed ex-
cellent Judgment in not trying to go
through under the circumstances.
Not only was Gen. FouloiS the first
airplane pilot in the Army, but he also
was pilot of the first American military
dirigible and was the youngest brigadier
general In the United States Army
when at SO he served as chief Of the
Air Service in the American Expedi-
tionary Forces.
Was First U. S. Pilot.
Gen Foulois was born at Washington
Depot, Conn, December 9, 1879, and
enlisted in the volunteer forces and