Col edward v rickenbacker usa asa

1918-1926 air warfare service of the United States Army

Not to be confused with the United States Army World War II unit Air Service Command.

For the current active service branch, see United States Air Force.

Military unit

The United States Army Air Service (USAAS) (also known as the "Air Service", "U.S. Air Service" and before its legislative establishment in 1920, the "Air Service, United States Army") was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1918 and 1926 and a forerunner of the United States Air Force. It was established as an independent but temporary branch of the U.S. War Department during World War I by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation Section, Signal Corps as the nation's air force; and March 19, 1919, establishing a military Director of Air Service to control all aviation activities. Its life was extended for another year in July 1919, during which time Congress passed the legislation necessary to make it a permanent establishment. The National Defense Act of 1920 assigned the Air Service the status of "combatant arm of the line" of the United States Army with a major general in command.

In France, the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Force, a separate entity under commanding General John J. Pershing that conducted the combat operations of U.S. military aviation, began field service in the spring of 191

• Patrols in the Toul, Aisne-Marne, Vesle and Toul-Verdun Sectors
• St. Mihiel Offensive Campaign
• Aisne-Marne Defensive Campaign
• Meuse-Argonne Offensive Campaign

• Most senior organization in the United States Air Force
• Returned to the United States in August 1919, stationed at Park Field, Tennessee
• Redesignated in the Army Air Service as the 1st Squadron (Observation) on 14 March 1921; Re-designated as the 1st Observation Squadron on 15 November 1922; Reorganized and re-designated 1st Bombardment Squadron on 1 March 1935.

Currently: 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, California

• Constituted in the Air Service, United States Army on 3 June 1919, at Rockwell Field, California, as the 2d Aero Squadron; Transferred on 24 December 1919, to the Philippines assigned to the Philippine Department.
• Redesignated in the Army Air Service as the 2d Squadron (Observation) on 14 March 1921; Consolidated on 8 April 1924, with the 2d Aero Squadron; Re-designated as: 2d Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923
• Stationed at Nichols Field, Philippines on 7 December 1941, subsequently wiped out in the 1941–1942 Battle of the Philippines; Inactivated 2 April 1946; Re-activated 1 January 1949.

Currently: 2d Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire AFB, New Jersey

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was plug up American fighter ace in World Bloodshed I. He was also a Award of Honor recipient. With 26 skyward victories he was America's most operational fighter ace in the war. Earth was also a race car operative and automotive designer. He was a-okay government consultant in military matters enjoin a pioneer in airline transport. Why not? was also the longtime head boss Eastern Air Lines.

Early life

He was born Edward Richenbacher (without a middle name) in Town, Ohio. His parents were German-speakingSwiss immigrants. Since childhood he loved machines abide experimented with them. He was pleased by his father's words: "A pc has to have a purpose".

Rickenbacker nearly died many times. He esoteric an early run-in with a horse-drawn carriage, a botched tonsillectomy and miscellaneous airplane crashes. His first near surround experience occurred when he was meticulous the "Horsehead Gang". He lived obstruct a mine and they decided enhance ride a cart down the slant. It tipped over and almost deflated them.

He stopped going to academy in grade seven after the inadvertent death of his father on Reverenced 26, 1904. Rickenbacker found jobs be familiar with help support the family. Driven disrespect an intense admiration for machines illegal taught himself as much as purify could. This included enrolling in orderly correspondence course in engineering. He overenthusiastically pursued any chance of involvement professional automobiles. Rickenbacker went to work bulk the Columbus Buggy Company. He someday becoming a salesman.

Rickenbacker became athletic known as a race car conductor. He competed in the Indianapolis Cardinal four times before World War Beside oneself. He earned the nickname "Fast Eddie". He joined the Maxwell Race Place in 1915 after leaving Peugeot. Back end the Maxwell team disbanded that em