While the Aeronautical Squad, Company A, Signal Corps, National Guard of California deserves the credit for establishing this State's first (lignter-than-air) unit, it was 1st Lieut. John McHenry, Jr. and 1st Lieut. Eugene Burton Ely who deserve the credit of establishing the first National Guard (heavier-than-air) aviation unit in the country. 

Ely's demonstrations in November 1910 - January 1911 had sparked the imagination of Major General E. A. Forbes,The Adjutant General (California), who foresaw the possibilities of the aeroplane as a weapon.  These early tests for the military not only lead 1st Lieut. John McHenry, Jr., N.G.C., to form the first Aeronautical Detachment as part of the Coast Artillery Corps, but induced him to enlist Ely in February 1911 as a private in the California National Guard. This historic event makes Eugene Burton Ely the National Guard's first enlisted heavier-than-air aviator in military history.

The Aeronautical Detachment, Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard of California was formally organized on 20 February  1911, with headquarters at the San Francisco Armory.  Through Glenn H. Curtiss the National Guard of California acquired one of its first Curtiss aeroplanes, and Eugene B. Ely offered his services to train two officers and carry on experiments in aerial scouting, photography and bomb dropping.  In addition to Ely, McHenry also induced four other aviators to enlist in the National Guard. Following these National Guard flying activities in March, 1911, Eugene Ely was appointed Aviation Aid to the Governor of California and the Aeronautical Corps was established.  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 6 July 1911.

But this story actually begins with the Aeronautical Squad of Company A, Signal Corps, National Guard of Caliifornia and the Aero Club of California.  The later is who invited Curtiss to Los Angeles, California, to participate in what was to become America's First International Air Meet held in January 1910.

A California Moment

. . . The Prelude to the State's Air Arm

Aeronautical Squad, Co. A., Signal Corps, N.G.C., with Balloon No. 1

(c) Copyright 1997 (Rev. 2012)

All Rights Reserved

Mark J. Denger

California Center for Military History

Related Pages

Co. A, Signal Corps, N.G.C.

http://www/navalaviationhistory.com/SignalCorps

Aero Club of California

http://www.navalaviationhistory.com/AeroClubCalifornia.html

Roy Knabenshue

http://www.navalaviationhistory.com/Knabenshue.html

Short Biography of Glenn Hammond Curtiss

http://www.navalaviationhistory.com/GlennCurtiss1.html

Short Biography of Eugene Burton Ely

http://www.navalaviationhistory.com/EugeneBEly.html

Early History of Aviation in California

http://www.navalaviationhistory.com/CaliforniaStory.html

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