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Van Tine UMI Humber: 9931699 Copyright 1999 by White, Robert Paul All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9931699 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ABSTRACT The years between 1917 and 1928 were critical in the history of the United States Air Service in the doctrinal development of air warfare, leadership issues, and the future independence of America's military air arm. Major General Mason M. Patrick, a West Point graduate schooled as an engineer, was called upon twice within this period by his friend. General John J. Pershing, to lead the fledgling Air Service during turbulent times. Initially, Pershing called upon Patrick to lead and reorganize the Air Service in the midst of World War I. Pershing called upon Patrick in 1921 again to take over command of the Air Service in the midst of Brigadier General "Billy" Mitchell's often strident campaign for Air Service independence. While much has been written about Mitchell, Patrick has been all but ignored. Our ignorance of Patrick's accomplishments has led to an unqualified and uncritical acceptance of the pronouncements and attainments of his second in command: Billy Mitchell. In reality, due to Patrick's astute political judgment and close association u with the Army's General Staff, he ensured the economic and doctrinal survival of the United States Air Service at a time when it faced critical internal and external pressures. Mason Patrick was an exceptionally able administrator who controlled Billy Mitchell when others could (or would) not. In the beginning, Patrick was not a fervent air power advocate. But in the end, Patrick accomplished much more than Mitchell as he matured and grew in his appreciation of what military aviation could accomplish. Patrick's tenure as Chief of the Air Service and Air Corps proved to be one of strategic brilliance: the pivotal turning point on the road to Air Force independence. ui For my wife and son. IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In the course of the research associated with this study I have received invaluable assistance from many individuals. L t . Col. John Farquhar, USAF, Ph.D., and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Neal Meier, USMC, pointed me in the right direction with regard to starting this dissertation. On the research road, I have made the acquaintance of individuals without whom nothing could have been accomplished: the archivists. Col. Richard Rauschkolb and the staff at the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, especially Warren Trest, Joe Caver, Lynn Gamma, and Archie Difante. Their extensive knowledge and assistance saved me many hours of labor. Mr. Duane Reed at the United States Air Force Academy Library, Special Collections Division, was an exceptional Air Force history archival authority. Two individuals at the United States Military Academy also provided individual assistance beyond the call of duty: Mr. Alan Aimone and Ms. Suzanne Cristoff. At the National Archives Mr. John Taylor set me on the proper path to research in that wonderland of Hoilinger boxes. While there, I was well tended to by: Will Mahoney, Ed Reese, and Mitch Yockelson; all of whom helped me find my way through numerous Finding Aids and provided still more assistance though the thousands of linear feet in RG 18. At the Library of Congress, Special Collections Branch, the entire staff enlightened me regarding the contents of the Mitchell and Pershing collections. I was made most welcome at the U.S. Army institute for Military History at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where Colonel Jim McClain, Dr. Richard Sommers, and Mr. David Keogh provided excellent support. Mr. Mike Walker, at the Naval Historical Center, Washington, D.C., always took the time to check arcane facts for m e . At the Air Force History Support Office, in Washington, D.C., Dr. Roger Miller, Dr. George Watson, Dr. Richard Wolf, and Ms. Yvonne Kinkaid came to the rescue with, respectively: clarification, inspiration, computer resuscitation, and archival minutia. Dr. Richard Hallion, the Air Force Historian, provided unlimited support. Dr. David Mets, Dr. Jim Titus, and Col. Phil Meilinger, Ph.D., have all given me encouragement when I needed a boost. My brother James gave me the inspiration to finish sooner than I would have. Special appreciation must go to Dr. Dan Mortensen who read and reread. His many suggestions, and more importantly, his encouragement, are greatly appreciated. Dr. Allan Millett, my dissertation advisor, has certainly had his work cut out for him. Whatever good turn of phrase is within this work, it is due solely to him. VI VITA 30 May 1951 _________________ Born: Williamsport, PA 1973 ________________________ B.S. Education Lock Haven State College Lock Haven, PA 1976 ________________________ M.A. History Mansfield State College Mansfield, PA 1986 ________________________ M.A. Government Georgetown University Washington, D.C. PUBLICATIONS "The Blossburg Poles," in: The History of Tioga County. Paul O'Rourke, Ed., Sayre, PA: Sayre Press, 1976. Air Force Provisional Units of Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR: A Study in Leadership. Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany : USAFE Air Force History and Museums Program, 1995. "Mason Patrick: Air Corps Engineer," in: Aim High. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program, 1999. Our Air Force Heritage. (CD-ROM), Editor. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program, 1999. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: History Vll TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract_________________ — -------- ii Dedication ------ -------- ------------------ iv Acknowledgments__________ _______________________ v Vita_____________________________________________ vii Chapters : 1. Introduction---------------------------------- 1 2. From the Wright Brothers to World War I ----- 17 3. Mason M. Patrick: Army Engineer and Appointment as A.E.F., Air Service Chief ---- 34 4. Patrick Wins His War: Planes, Staff, Mitchell, and Strategic Bombing ------------- 63 5. Patrick and the Post-War A.E.F. Air Service, 1918-1919 ----- ----------------- 92 6. Demobilization, Legislation, Reorganization, The Sinking of Ships, and the Air Service Chief Resigns: the First Round in the Fight for Air Service Independence, 1919-1921------ 108 7. "To Command In Fact As Well As In Name" ----- 143 8. 1923: The Lassiter Board and "Fundamental Conceptions:" Spadework for the 1926 Air Corps Act ------------------ 183 9. Patrick Takes on a Pair of Wings, the Navy, and the Army General Service Schools -------- 215 10. Patrick's Search for Economy and Efficiency ... 237 11. The Fallout From the Lassiter Board Report and the Fall of Billy Mitchell -------------- 279 12. The Air Corps Act and Aftermath ------------- 308 13. Conclusion _____________ _____________________ 329 Bibliography ------------------------------------ 338 vm CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION In the summer of 1923, in a cloudless sky above Bolling Field just outside of Washington, D. C., a student pilot of the Army Air Service soloed for the first time. When he lifted off the grass airstrip moments before, he banked to the right, and turning, followed the Potomac River upstream on the first leg of what would be his successful proficiency flight to become the oldest Junior Military Aviator in the history of the Air Service and the oldest rated officer ever in what would become the United States Air Force. Major General Mason M. Patrick, Chief of the Army Air Service since October 1921, earned his wings that day at age fifty- nine. In December 1927, as General Patrick was about to retire at the mandatory age of sixty-five, he flew over Bolling Field again, but this time as Chief of the vastly improved Army Air Corps. From his first solo flight to his last active duty sortie. Mason Patrick was responsible for six years of extraordinary change within the Army Air Service and its successor, the Army Air Corps. Unfortunately, little is known of Patrick, who, in retrospect, was responsible for saving a fledgling air force from a variety of self-inflicted wounds and many competing and self-serving outside interests. In addition, the inter war period, and especially the decade following World War I, has attracted very little research on the Air Service and Air Corps.