The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 58, July 1954 - April, 1955 Page: 344
650 p. : ill., maps (some col.), ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
choose military aeronautics as a career with confidence of remain-
ing in that arm."6
The first pilot training began on October 8, 19o9. In the mean-
time, Foulois had been detached from the small aviation squadron
at College Park and sent to Nancy, France, as an observer at
the International Congress of Aeronautics. This sudden change
in plans left only Lahm and Humphreys to receive instruction
from Wilbur Wright. On October 26, after two weeks of dual
instruction, both Lahm and Humphreys completed successful
solo flights and became, in turn, "qualified instructors." Foulois
returned from Europe and began flying at College Park on Octo-
ber 2o, 19o9. After only three short flights with Wright as in-
structor, Foulois was assigned to Humphreys for additional dual
instruction. On November 5, 1909, Humphreys and Foulois,
while attempting a low turn into the field, scraped the ground
with the tip of their low wing. This minor accident resulted in
a delay while new parts were on the way from the Dayton factory
to College Park. It was during this delay in flight activities that
the Maryland weather took a turn for the worse as late autumn
winds of considerable force blew in from the north and east.
This unfavorable weather was the primary factor in a Signal Corps
decision to discontinue winter flying at College Park in favor of
a more southern location. Because of the large area of govern-
ment-owned land, the military reservation at Fort Sam Houston,
near San Antonio, Texas, was approved by the Signal Corps and
arrangements were made to transfer the aviation detachment and
to ship the airplane from College Park to Fort Sam Houston.
While waiting for the decision a personnel change almost de-
stroyed the effectiveness of the young aviation group. Frederick E.
Humphreys was ordered back to duty with the Corps of Engineers
and Frank P. Lahm was returned to duty with the Cavalry. Thus,
the Army's only flying organization lost its two qualified pilots.
Commenting on these transfers, General Henry Harley Arnold
rather bitterly remarked that:
With its typical "holier than thou" policy, the Corps of Engineers
recalled Humphries because he wasn't performing Engineering
duty. ...
OChandler and Lahm, How Our Army Grew Wings, iv.344
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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/m1/411/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.