The Wright Brothers first powered flight on December 17, 1903 changed everything. On August 1, 1907 an Aeronautical Division was established in the Chief Signal Officer section of the US Army; study the flying machine and military application.
Late that year the Army wanted an airplane, and in 1909 the Wright Brothers delivered the first military airplane.
Early pioneers of the AAC were Billy Mitchell and Hap Arnold. Through the years the AAF produced such names and leaders as Tooey Spaatz, George Kenney, Ira Eaker, Jimmy Doolittle, Claire Chennalut and Paul Tibbets.
From the early days, planes crashed, men died, but the service pushed on, undaunted. World War I had many men serving in the US Air Service. Gaining experience in flight and in war; these men would form the backbone of the AAF for WWII.
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