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MILLING, T. DEWITT, BRIG. GENERAL.USAF. – BIOG – FOLDER NO. ITEM NO.
MAJOR MILLING, EARLY U. S. ARMY FLYER WHO BROKE WORLD HOP MARK IN 1913 
HERE, RETIRED – ILL 
SAN ANTONIO EVENING NEWS 
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 
THURSDAY MARCH 30TH, 1933


MAJOR MILLING, ONCE CALLED 1 OF THE FOREMOST AVIATORS OF THE WORLD,' HAS RETIRED

(Continued From Page 1.)
He has been under treatment at the Fitzsimmons General Hospital at Denver, Colo., for the past year. Maj. Milling, 45, at one time held a world's record for an endurance flight with a passenger when he flew from Texas City to San Antonio nonstop during 1913. He flew the 224 miles an 3 hours and 15 minutes and then remained aloft for a total elapsed time of 4 hours and 22 minutes, 28 minutes longer than the record at that time.

Maj. Milling spent several months during 1916 flying up and down the border in the search for Pancho Villa, Mexican bandit chief, and several times escaped injury from crackups in Northern Mexico. He held the rank of colonel of air corps in France during the World War.

The following account of Major Milling and his exploits (Then Lieut. Milling) was written in 1914 after he had been called "one of the foremost aviators of the world:"

The United States Government has just conferred a signal honor upon Lieut. Thomas DeWitt Milling, of the Fifteenth Cavalry, U.S.A., the army's most skillful and daring aviator who was recently described in official reports as "one of the foremost aviators in the world." This distinction took the shape of a request to the French government for permission for young Milling to study aviation in the French military schools; the only request of the kind which are country has ever felt called on to make. Milling, who goes to Europe to pilot the American machine in the forthcoming races for the Gordon Bennett Cup in September will be the guest of the French government while he pursues his studies in France. What kind of man he is, what he has done to attract international attention, and whether he may be expected to make good the high opinion which the commanding officers of our army have formed his ability, are questions that deserve more than passing attention.

SON OF PROMINENT NEW ORLEANS LAWYER.
Lieut. Milling is a native of Louisiana. He is 26 years of age, and was graduated at West Point in 1909. His father is Judge R. E. Milling, member of a prominent New Orleans law firm. Judge Milling is an authority on the Louisiana reclamation bonds, which he has declared to be better security than municipal or state bonds, because of the fact that they are safeguarded by a specific and not an ad valorem tax. Young Milling grew up in Winnfield and Franklin, small Louisiana towns, where the airship is still unknown. To look today into his calm, steady blue eyes, and note the firm-shut lips an air of quick decision, and here is clear, commanding voice, no one would ever think that in his early youth his daring air-Captain was so timid as to be the butt of his associates and almost the despair of his parents. He had a pony, but he was afraid to ride him across the creek. He was reluctant to enter any athletic competition. He hung aloof when his more venturesome playmates undertook any small adventure. This curious phase of his development lasted till the family settled in Franklin. Then the boy emerged from it with almost dramatic abruptness. Once confident of himself, became a leader. His coolness and emergencies, is prompt judgment and his mental resource began to attract attention. He became passionately fond of horses. He was a winner in pony and bicycle races. The metamorphosis was so complete that in 1905, when the lad received his appointment to West Point, his father looking after the train that carried him away, observed, "If that boy is ever placed in a position where instant and devisive action is required, he will certainly distinguish himself."

SNAPPED UP CHANCE TO BECOME AVIATOR.
How well justified that prediction was, appears in the manner in which young Milling got his berth in the aviation service — that most perilous branch of Uncle Sam's army; to which nevertheless, numberless young army officers aspire. After leaving the military academy Milling entered the cavalry — induced to do so by his love of horses — and was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to take charge of the commissary. Shortly afterwards, when the other officers were ordered to Texas to take part in the maneuvers, he was deeply chagrined to discover that he was expected to remain behind. It was in this mood of disappointment that he one day received a telegram from Army headquarters in Washington, asking him if he would accept the transfer to the aviation service. Would he? Anybody who knows Milling will tell you that nothing in the world would be more to his taste. He lost no time in sending in an acceptance, and the next time his family heard of it, he was learning to handily biplane at the Wright Brothers' school at Dayton, Ohio.

Now,Milling had made no application for the aviation service, nor had any of his friends interested themselves to secure his appointment, over the heads of scores of good men whose names were on the waiting list. But it had chanced that, sometime before, one of the members of the board which has the appointments in charge, was at Fort Leavenworth, and saw Milling playing polo. Milling was then captain of the post team. He handled his men so adroitly that the official spectator was greatly impressed with his readiness and address, and made up his mind that at the first opportunity he would have that young soldier placed where his qualities would have a chance to display themselves. The telegram which changed Milling's dejection to elation followed not long after.

After two months' instruction at Dayton, Milling felt himself thoroughly familiar with the bi-plane. So he entered the Boston meet of that year, to compete with such men as Graham White and Sopwith. He made a sensational flight from Bosto nto Nashua, N.H., thence to Worcester, Mass., thence to Providence, R.I., and thence back to Boston, a distance of 175 mile, winning a $5,000 prize. In spite of his youth, and against the opposition of veterans of the air, he carried off other prizes, his total gains from this initial meet being $7,700. Milling then took part in the 1911 meet on Long Island, and carried off the prize for a record flight of two hours with two passengers. For this exploit he received $1,000 and the handsome Wanamaker trophy. At these meets Milling was on leave of absence from the Army, and was flying as a private individual.

WORKED OUT SYSTEM OF TARGET LOCATION.
In April, 1912, Lieut. Milling, in conjunction with Lieut. H. B. Arnold, were sent to Fort Riley, Kan., to work out a system of target location and fire observation with the field artillery. This they did with signal success. They signalled information to the artillerymen by wireless telegraph and by dropping weighted cards with written messages. These satisfactory results which were attained have made it certain that aeroplanes will be extensivel used for this kind of scout duty whenever our country has the misfortune hereafter to become involved in trouble with some other power.

Although no extra prizes were offered and there was no throng of interested spectators present to acclaim, unquestionably the most remarkable achievement of Lieut. Milling as an aviator was his flight from Texas City to San Antonio, Tex., on March 28, and his later return. Lieut. W.C. Sherman, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., accompanied Milling on this thrilling journey. The best description of this record-making trip is contained in Milling's own report:

"1. In going from Texas City to San Antonio, left the ground at 2:15 p.m., March 28, 1913, in an east wind of 25 miles per hour. After circling the field for five minutes and attaining an altitude of 900 feet, started for San Antonio. It was originally intended to make the flight by compass, verifying the course by prominent points. However, the air was extremely rough, and so hazy that objects over two miles away could not be distinguished. Accordingly, after following a compass course West until the Santa Fe Railroad was reached, at a point