JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
While known for being the “father of U.S. military aviation” with his historic flight at Fort Sam Houston March 2, 1910, Benjamin D. Foulois was also the owner of many other aviation-related “firsts.”
1916 – First American to fly in combat
Pancho Villa’s March 9, 1916, raid on Columbus, N.M., presented Foulois and the First Aero Squadron with a major opportunity. On March 19, he led his squadron to Casas Grandes, 125 miles south of the Mexican border.
Weather, terrain, inexperienced pilots, the lack of maps and communications combined with the shortcomings of the underpowered aircraft to pose unsolvable problems. Crashes and maintenance troubles steadily reduced their numbers until, by April 14, the First Aero Squadron was down to its last two aircraft.
Despite all their difficulties, Foulois and his men did a great deal of scouting and maintained an aerial mail route for the Mexican Punitive Expedition troops – commanded by Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing.
Foulois’ candid and comprehensive report on the operations, plus the support of Pershing and Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, led to the first substantial U.S. aviation appropriation -- $13,281,666 approved by Congress on Aug. 29, 1916.
The Mexican Punitive Expedition also brought Foulois into contact with William “Billy” Mitchell, who, up to that point, had never flown in an airplane. Mitchell and Foulois clashed over who was to blame for the squadron’s lackluster performance in Mexico, and the two remained bitter rivals for the rest of their careers.