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[[HANDWRITTEN NOTE]]B10G[[HANDWRITTEN NOTE]]
[[HANDWRITTEN NOTE]]Q1972-81[[HANDWRITTEN NOTE]
COPY

August 3, 1921.

My dear General Menoher:

Your letter of commendation of August third is very much appreciated by the First Provisional Air Brigade - both officers and men.

It is difficult for one to realize what a tremendous amount of work is necessary in the organization, administration and tactical handling of an air brigade.

When the Brigade was first gathered together, not more than ten per cent of the officers had any knowledge of the tactical work required of them; with the exception of those who served in Europe, none had ever been on duty with an organization of this kind.  Some of the enlisted men were excellent and some were very deficient.  They were welded into a very homogeneous and careful body of men by the conclusion of the maneuvers.

What observers saw in the vicinity of the naval vessels that were attacked, which were a hundred miles away from the airdrome, was only the apex of the cone of the whole work, which consisted in the preparation of practically all equipment, armament, the organization of the staff, and the administration of the brigade. 

The organization as it ended up was the best for its kind in existence.  No other organization in any country at the present time could have obtained the same results.  The officers most concerned in accomplishing this result are Major Milling, Major Sherman, and Major Kilner, and I recommend that special commendatory letters be written them. 

Sincerely, 

Wm. Mitchell, 
Brigadier General, Air Service, 
Ass't Chief of Air Service.

Major General C. T. Menoher
Chief of Air Service
Washington
D        C

[[HANDWRITTEN SIDE NOTE]]D-111[[HANDWRITTEN NOTE]]
[[HANDWRITTEN SIDE NOTE]]Commendations[[HANDWRITTEN NOTE]