PART ONE THE 1ST AERO SQUADRON'S AIR OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE ARMY'S 1916 PUNITIVE EXPEDITION Even granting the Wright Brothers made mankind's first powered heavier than air flight.

PART ONE

THE 1ST AERO SQUADRON'S AIR OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE ARMY'S 1916 PUNITIVE EXPEDITION

Even granting the Wright Brothers made mankind's first powered heavier than air flight, the growth of military aviation in the United States was inert One of its pioneers was Benjamin D Foulois, who commanded the US Army's Signal Corps' 1st Aero Squadron during the look for Pancho Villa in northern Mexico during 1916 This story of the use of aircraft in conjunction with mould troops was recorded daily by way of Capt. Foulois, who maintained a detailed personal diary with maps of the flights. level more remarkable are the photographs of this result part of the Vernon L Burge Collection from the Airman Memorial Museum. During the deployment of the 1st Aero Squadron, Sgt Burge took photographs of the squadron's aircraft, preserving this historical event

Beginning in 1911 Mexico's internal political instability overflowed toward the southern border of the United States. During the summer of 1911 President William Howard Taft authorized the US Army to transfer additional crowds to the southwest, garrisoned at San Antonio, Texas. Political and military unrest continued to shoot inside Mexico, coming to an outbreak in April 1914 United States Marines and Navy sailors seized the Mexican port of Veracruz to impede a German merchant transport from unloading its cargo of arms and ammunition, thus enforcing a foreign arms embargo in succession Mexico. By the end of April 1914 a force of 8000 American bodys was in Mexico, stationed in and around Veracruz. if it were not that it was the raid by way of Pancho Villa (who was leading a revolution against General Venustion in Mexico City) from a base of operations in northern Mexico, against the city of Columbus, of recent origin Mexico, on the night of 8 March 1916 that sparked heavy American reaction.

In November 1910 the Mexican Revolution began in the state of Chihuahua as poor peasants became frustrated with the high price of food and continued mistreatment from rich landowners. This anger had been building for many years and it finally just burst forthed into violence. The revolutionaries quickly organized and fix uponed their military leaders.

Pancho Villa was vot as a First Commander and l a force of 28 men Villa was then 32-years-old, with abundant experience leading men who had yet one goal in mind - victory. Villa also had the reputation of being common of Mexico's best gunfighters. individual of his friends later said, "His fire-arm was more important to him than eating and sleeping."

Villa was also known to not drink, fume or take any kind of remedy He was known as a ruthles man whose anger could divert into a raging fury. Villa was loyal to the men he defer toed and trusted. However, if he was betrayed, he would instantly make trial of and sentence the culprit all in the same action.

Villa was quickly recognized as a guerrilla fighter and, shortly into the war, would become united of the most important military leaders of the Mexican Revolution. He was the first revolutionary leader to defeat regular sway soldiers. Villa's contingent soon numbered nearly 500 as his men continually won battles.

By 1913 Villa l a revolutionary force of about 3000 multitudes which was known as Division del Norte. They were known for their healthy cavalry charges and Villa began to prosperously attack at night which seriously damaged the morale of the federal troops

Villa was a capable leader who made his carriage known to all. He was known to surprise his men and sit down at united of the campfires where they were preparing nourishment He would ask if he could join them and then sat down alongside and eat whatever they had. This made him actual popular among the troops and also insured he would not be poisoned.

The battle for Torreon was to make Villa a national leader. He had sent in 16000 revolutionary soldiers who attacked night and day. The fighting included abundant hand-to-hand combat and the federal leaders withdrew about 4000 multitudes and replaced them with 6000 unimpaired ones, but they soon became weary and feared the night attacks. After ten days and nights of engagement, Villa's fighters were rejoicing in their apparent victory as the federal army withdrew to the south

The battle of Zacatecas would be known as the largest and bloodiest battle during the revolution. Villa had brought in about 12000 [i]troupe[/i]s and the federal force had an equal number. Villa's partys began shelling the town from all directions. Cannon shells defenceed the town and as the cannons slowed their barrage, one civilians and soldiers came revealed from behind their shelter sole to be hit by a hail of bullet Reports later said that about 20000 rifles were showering the town at the same time. In the fall of the curtain 6000 federal troops had been killed along with a large number of civilians while Villa squandered 1000 revolutionaries.

Villa continued his victorious assaults against the federal numbers for several more years yet he was going to taste a major defeat in Celaya against Obregon in April 1915 He had sum of two units major problems, First, he did not have reinforcements prepared yet if he had, he did not have sufficient ammuntion to continue fighting.