Evening star., 1935-12-29
was one cracked tail skid, which en-
1 LIN - aarfe

was one cracked tail skid, which en-
tailed q repair bill Of so cents.
Throughout the Winter of 1915-16
Capt. Foulois commanded the squad
ron at San Antonio and also was on
duty as department aeronautical ON
Ger of the Southern Department. The
squadron's training soon was to bear
fruit. In March, Capt. Foulois was
ordered to proceed with the squadron
to Columbus, N. Mex, for duty with |
the Mexican punitive expedition, then |
being organized under Gen. John j. |
Pershing for service in pursuit of Pan
cho Villa.
During the Mexican expedition, |
Capt. Foulois was called upon con- |
stantly to perform duties outside those |
now recognized as belonging to an
aviation officer and his squadron, In
the absence of anything like STAN
dards for employment of aviation, also
served as sort of jack of all trades.
Although the squadron was handicap
ped by inferior and old types of air
planes, it performed its actual flying
operations so well that Gen. Pershing
states afterward that one airplane
had been worth more TO him than a
regiment Of Cavalry.
IN SEPTEMBER, 1916, following his
return to San Antonio, Capt. Foulois
again was assigned to duty as depart
ment aeronautical officer and es-
tablished the present aviation station
now known as Kelly Field, home Of
the Air Corps Advanced Flying School.
He also outlined plans for establish
ment Of aviation stations along the
border from Brownsville to the Pa
cific Coast.
Capt Foulois came back to Wash
ington in March, 1917. to serve in
the aviation section, Signal Corps,
and upon the declaration Of war
against Germany a month later he
was personally charged with drawing
up the plans and organization Of the
Army Air Service for the great
emergency.
His plan became the basis of the
development of a new industry in
America; the construction Of training
stations, shops, ware houses and other
plant equipment; the recruiting, Or
ganization and training of 120, 900
officers and enlisted men; the prepa-
ration for advanced training in the
field, and the coordination of opera
tions with those Of ground troops.
The magnitude of the task was stag
gering. When the United States de-
clared war it had an airforce composed
Of 65 oficers. only IS Of whom were
pilots: 1887 enlisted men and 55 air.
planes.
During the eight years from 1909 to
1916, American manufacturers had
delivered to the Army = total of 142
arplanes.
The size Of the task confronting this
country may be appreciated when 1t is
recalled that the French government
presented q program calling for 16.500
modern American airplanes in the first
six months Of 1918.
TN ADDITION to getting the pro-
gram in motion, Foulois also acted
in numerous other capacities, among
them as chairman of the joint Army
and Navy Technical Aircraft Com
mittee of the War and Navy Depart
ments.
October, 1917, found him again
aboard an ocean-going vessel. this
time bound for France with the silver
star Of o brigadier general on his
shoulder straps. His mission was to
take charge of field work in locating
and organizing training stations, de-
pots, shops, warehouses and airdromes
in France, England and Italy aud the
training Of all personnel in these allied
countries. The War Department says
that this huge task was well per-
formed.
Briefly, the World War service Of
Gen. Foulois may be summarized by
pointing out that he was chief of Air
Service. A. Z. F., from November ~,
1917, to May 20, 1918; chief Of Air
Service, 1st Army, May 20, 1918, to
July Is, 1918: assistant chief Of Air
Service, A. E. F., July IS. 1918, to June
26, 1919. He also was chairman Of the
Joint Army and Navy Aircraft Com
mittee in Paris, charged with super
vision Of purchases made in the United
States; American member Of the In
| terallied Export Committee on Avia-
ton, which was part of the Supreme
War Council, and held other impor-
tant posts.
In recognition Of his war services
the French government awarded Gen.
Foulois the grade of commandeur OF
the Legion d'Honneur. He also was
awarded the Distinguished Service
Medal for exceptionally meritorious
and conspicuous services with the Air
Service, A. z. F."
After the war Gen. Foulois returned
to Washington and was on duty IN
connection with the demobili1ation OF
the Air Service and the salvaging OF
its immense accumulations Of prop
erty. He then was ordered to Ger
many for duty as air attache at the
American embassy in Berlin. Return
ing to America in April, 1924, he took
a years course In the Command and
General stan School, Fort Leaven-
| worth