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MILLING T. DEWITT, BRIG. GEN USAF - BIOG FILES - FOLDER NO. ITEM NO.

PIONEER ARMY FLIER RECOUNTS AIR THRILLS
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
DENVER COLO.
MONDAY, FEB. 29th, 1932

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Pioneer Army Flier Recounts Air Thrills
Thomas De Witte Milling, Fitzsimons Patient, Took First Craft Aloft 21 Years Ago[[/newspaper clipping]]

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BY MARIETTA VASCONCELLS
Thomas DeWitt Milling took his first "flying crate" into the air 21 years ago.

But it's a far cry from those days of aviation infancy, when only the born fliers lived to learn the hazardous game, to these days of air palaces, Major Milling admitted yesterday at Fitzsimons Hospital, where he is recovering from an illness.

Major Milling was a lieutenant two years out of West Point when the Wright brothers taught him to fly at Dayton, Ohio.

With two hours of instruction, he made his first solo flight. Trained on the theory that fliers are born and not made, Milling considered more preliminary instruction needless in those far-off days of two decades ago.

Started in 1911

But from this hazardous start emerged the Thomas DeWitt Milling recognized today as the father of military aviation. He has been in aviation longer than any other man in the army and his contributions to this field of flying have been many.

When he entered the game in 1911, planes were equipped with 35-horse-power motors and attained a maximum speed of 38 miles an hour. At this top speed they were likely to drop wings or other necessary appurtenances.

The flying pioneers of those days never considered going up unless the weather was ideal. The method of testing for wind was to throw a handful of dry grass into the air. If there was enough wind to carry it off, the flight was postponed.

The only flying was being done by exhibition teams, sent out by the Wright brothers.

Makes First Night Flight

August of 1911 saw Lieutenant Milling making the first night flight ever attempted. he also made camera and bomb-dropping tests, indicating the government realized, even then, the possibilities of aircraft for warfare.

In September, the biggest meets in aviation history were held at Boston and Nassau Boulevard, L. I. About 15 planes competed.

Milling, on a leave of absence from the army, flew a Burgess-Wright plane, establishing the world's duration record with a pilot and two passengers, staying up one hour 54 minutes 42 3-5 seconds.

Graham White and Ear Sopwith, widely known English fliers, were among the competitors. 

In the fall of 1912, at Fort Riley, Kan., Milling successfully conducted tests in the observation of artillery fire from an airplane, using both radio and dropped messages. These were among the first trials of this character made in the world. 

Ordered to Texas

The same year he obtained the first military aviator's certificate issued by the U.S. army. He already held the third expert aviator's certificate issued in this country. 

In January, 1913, Milling was ordered to Texas City, Texas, with the First Aviation detachment, for expected service in Mexico. While there, he established a new American distance and endurance record with passenger by making a non-stop flight to San Antonio, Texas, a distance of 230 miles and return without landing. 

In the fall of that year, Milling was sent to Europe to observe aviation developments and attend flying schools. He spent a year in France, Germany, Austria and England.

In all the military messes, Milling said, he heard war talk and returned to Washington with the unofficial report that a European war was inevitable. Four months later war was declared.

Organizes Flying School

In March, 1916, Milling was ordered to Washington, D.C., for duty in the signal corps office. While on this duty, he drew up the basis upon which the reserve corps of the air service was organized the first flying school for instruction of reserve military aviators.

Six months after this country entered the World War, Milling was ordered to France for duty. From September to January, 1918, he was on duty in Paris at headquarters of the chief of air service, as officer in charge of flying training in Europe.

Six months later, Milling was given command of the American Air Service units at the Toul Sector. In September he was appointed chief of staff of the first army. He held this position during the St. Mihiel battle and during the first phases of the Argonne-Meuse battles. 

Wins Coveted Decorations

Milling had risen to the rank of colonel when, in October of 1918, he was appointed chief of the air service of the first American army. He commanded the air service during the last battles of the war and until January, 1919, when he was ordered back to the United States. 

For his service in Europe, Milling received the Distinguished Service Medal from the United States, the Order of Leopold from Belgium, and the Legion of Honor form France.

"I strongly believe," Major Milling said yesterday, "that the government should foster commercial aviation until it can stand on its own feet. The establishment of aircraft factories, airways and drones would be a great asset in case of war.

Warns Against Disarming

"While it is a mistake to assume that commercial aviation will be of any direct military use in case of war, it will be necessary for legitimate commercial purposes just as the railroads were during the World War."

Major Milling contends that now is not the time for further disarmament.

"Certainly, the demonstration now going on in the Orient would not indicate that now was the time to disarm," he said.

"I believe we should maintain armament based on our own needs for defensive purposes, regardless of what the rest of the world has."

Major Milling, who is 44, was born in Winfield, La., July 31, 1887. His is married and has one child.

U.S. SOLDIER REFUSES TO 'GO SICK' AND DIES

Associated Press
SHANGHAI, Feb. 28-The first casualty among the American defense forces participating in the Shanghai crisis occurred today when Sergt. Moore L. Gordon of the 31st U.S. infantry died of pneumonia contracted in the line of duty. He became ill while superintending laying of military telephone lines.

He refused to "go sick" and instead insisted on completing his telephone line.
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