The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 58, July 1954 - April, 1955 Page: 357
650 p. : ill., maps (some col.), ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Origin of Military Aviation in Texas, 910o-19r3 357
one of the highlights of early military aviation if not the most
outstanding accomplishments in Army flying up until that time.
Phil Parmalee, Benjamin D. Foulois, and the Wright Type B
Scout set a new world's record for distance when they covered the
106 miles between Laredo and Eagle Pass in two hours and ten
minutes of non-stop flight. The flight, made through a heavy haze
that reduced vision, got underway when the pilots took off from
their Fort McIntosh field at 2 P.M. After takeoff, Parmalee and
Foulois steered for the Rio Grande and then headed in the gen-
eral direction of Eagle Pass. Twenty-six minutes later an agent
of the Rio Grande and Eagle Pass Railroad reported the flyers
over Minera; and although Signal Corps wireless stations at Sul-
livan's Ranch and Pagauche Crossing also spotted the airplane,
they gave no notification. Back at Fort McIntosh, the enlisted
men-Herbert Marcus, Stephen J. Idzorek, Vernon L. Burge, and
Felix Clarke-along with O. G. Simmons were "sweating it out"
when they received the following wire report from Lieutenant
Foulois at 4:30 P.M.:
Eagle Pass, Texas
March 3
O. G. Simmons, Aeronautical Engineer, Fort McIntosh, Texas:
Arrived 4:07 without stop. Picked up all wireless stations in route.
Didn't see a thing on the Mexican side. Will probably return Sunday.
Foulois41
This record breaking flight, made over rugged terrain "covered
largely with chaparral, with no roads or settlements to speak
of," was described by Lieutenant Foulois as follows:
We left Laredo at exactly 2 o'clock and came in as near a bee-line
as possible, following the river all the way at an average altitude of
1ooo feet. We traveled exactly lo6 miles in two hours and ten minutes,
thus breaking the world's record for continuous flight in a biplane
with a passenger. The country was exceedingly rough all the way and
we saw only one spot where a forced landing could have been pos-
sible.42
Foulois states that this initial reconnaissance flight under
service conditions "developed negative military information"
but that Texas terrain between Laredo and Eagle Pass was so
4'lbid., March 4, 1911.
42Ibid.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 58, July 1954 - April, 1955, periodical, 1955; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101158/m1/426/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.