A Giant in the Shadows: Major General Benjamin Foulois and the Rise of the Army Air Service in World War I - Beginnings of Military Aviation, War Department Buys Aeroplane, Foulois on Western Front

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War I
Cover of the book A Giant in the Shadows: Major General Benjamin Foulois and the Rise of the Army Air Service in World War I - Beginnings of Military Aviation, War Department Buys Aeroplane, Foulois on Western Front by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781310597350
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: January 27, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781310597350
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: January 27, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this paper examines the military career of Maj Gen Benjamin Foulois to determine how his personal qualities and professional skill enabled him to rapidly build up and lead the air arm of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) to victory in World War I. While previous academic works have focused on Foulois's early aviation career from 1909 to 1916 and his tenure as chief of the Air Corps from 1931 to 1935, nothing details the vital role he played in the development of the American Air Service leading up to and during World War I. Foulois's personal and moral courage allowed him to take on the weighty responsibility of designing and executing a $640 million plan to create a combat air force from scratch. After his poor performance as chief of the Air Service, this same courage enabled him to learn from his mistakes and return to the Air Service staff to complete the organizational buildup he started. His skill as a political infighter gave him the insight to advocate patiently for the air arm's interests within the halls of the Congress and the War Department instead of following Billy Mitchell's example of using the blunt instruments of criminal accusations in the court of public opinion to effect change. Foulois's leadership record during the war was mixed; he was much more effective as a logistician and troubleshooter for solving the Air Service's training, aircraft production, and contracting problems than as a combat leader on the front. While Foulois was one of the world's first writers on airpower theory, he chose to focus his later career on developing the technological and organizational innovations he felt were required to bring the airpower theories of others such as Mitchell, Douhet, and Trenchard to fruition. Foulois's leadership, tenacity, forward thinking, and organizational skill hold lessons for future Air Force leaders charged with a similar rapid establishment or expansion of new capabilities, such as a robust remotely piloted vehicle force or a cyber warfare arm of the Air Force.

Chapter 1 - Introduction * Chapter 2 - Foulois and the Beginnings of Military Aviation (1897-1913) * Early Life and First Enlistment in the Army * Second Enlistment and Two Tours in the Philippines * Professional Military Education and a Detour to Cuba * The Army Signal School Thesis * The War Department Buys an Aeroplane * Foulois Joins Army Aviation * " . . . and Teach Yourself to Fly" * Analysis * Chapter 3 - Organizing and Funding an Air Force (1914-17) * Fixing the Schoolhouse and Establishing the 1st Aero Squadron * First Combat—The Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916 * America Enters the War and Purchases an Air Force * "Build a Large Something out of Nothing, and Build It Quickly" * Analysis * Chapter 4 - Leading the War in the Air (1917-18) * Reorganizing the Air Service * Meeting the Challenges * Change of Command * Analysis * Chapter 5 - To the Front and Back (1918-67) * Foulois on the Western Front * Back to the Air Service Staff * America's Record of Accomplishment * Foulois's Second Rise and Fall as Chief of the Air Arm * Analysis * Chapter 6 - Conclusion * The Man * The Political Infighter * The Leader * The Theorist * Implications * Bibliography

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this paper examines the military career of Maj Gen Benjamin Foulois to determine how his personal qualities and professional skill enabled him to rapidly build up and lead the air arm of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) to victory in World War I. While previous academic works have focused on Foulois's early aviation career from 1909 to 1916 and his tenure as chief of the Air Corps from 1931 to 1935, nothing details the vital role he played in the development of the American Air Service leading up to and during World War I. Foulois's personal and moral courage allowed him to take on the weighty responsibility of designing and executing a $640 million plan to create a combat air force from scratch. After his poor performance as chief of the Air Service, this same courage enabled him to learn from his mistakes and return to the Air Service staff to complete the organizational buildup he started. His skill as a political infighter gave him the insight to advocate patiently for the air arm's interests within the halls of the Congress and the War Department instead of following Billy Mitchell's example of using the blunt instruments of criminal accusations in the court of public opinion to effect change. Foulois's leadership record during the war was mixed; he was much more effective as a logistician and troubleshooter for solving the Air Service's training, aircraft production, and contracting problems than as a combat leader on the front. While Foulois was one of the world's first writers on airpower theory, he chose to focus his later career on developing the technological and organizational innovations he felt were required to bring the airpower theories of others such as Mitchell, Douhet, and Trenchard to fruition. Foulois's leadership, tenacity, forward thinking, and organizational skill hold lessons for future Air Force leaders charged with a similar rapid establishment or expansion of new capabilities, such as a robust remotely piloted vehicle force or a cyber warfare arm of the Air Force.

Chapter 1 - Introduction * Chapter 2 - Foulois and the Beginnings of Military Aviation (1897-1913) * Early Life and First Enlistment in the Army * Second Enlistment and Two Tours in the Philippines * Professional Military Education and a Detour to Cuba * The Army Signal School Thesis * The War Department Buys an Aeroplane * Foulois Joins Army Aviation * " . . . and Teach Yourself to Fly" * Analysis * Chapter 3 - Organizing and Funding an Air Force (1914-17) * Fixing the Schoolhouse and Establishing the 1st Aero Squadron * First Combat—The Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916 * America Enters the War and Purchases an Air Force * "Build a Large Something out of Nothing, and Build It Quickly" * Analysis * Chapter 4 - Leading the War in the Air (1917-18) * Reorganizing the Air Service * Meeting the Challenges * Change of Command * Analysis * Chapter 5 - To the Front and Back (1918-67) * Foulois on the Western Front * Back to the Air Service Staff * America's Record of Accomplishment * Foulois's Second Rise and Fall as Chief of the Air Arm * Analysis * Chapter 6 - Conclusion * The Man * The Political Infighter * The Leader * The Theorist * Implications * Bibliography

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book 2014: The Future of American Airpower - America's Air Force: a Call to the Future, Agile USAF, Naval Aviation Vision 2014-2025, Air-Sea Battle, ISR, UCLASS, X-47B, F-35, 21st Century Deterrence by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Haiti in Perspective - Orientation Guide and Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Religion, Customs, Duvalier, Vodou (Voodoo), Aristide, Catholicism, Port-au-Prince, Windward Passage by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Understanding Social Media and Mass Mobilization in the Operational Environment: Relevance of Twitter and Facebook Trends in Army’s Future Operating Environment, Battleswarm and Future Warfare by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Developing and Applying Synthesis Models of Emerging Space Systems: Military Small Satellites, DoD MILSATCOM, ISR, Commercial Small Satellites, Research, Cost Estimation and Acquisition, Launchers by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Black Hats and White Hats: The Effect of Organizational Culture and Institutional Identity on the Twenty-third Air Force: Air Rescue, Desert One Disaster, Special Operations, Combat Search and Rescue by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Once Again, The Challenge to the U.S. Army During a Defense Reduction: To Remain a Military Profession by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Biplanes and Bombsights: British Bombing in World War I - Sopwith Strutter, Zeppelin, Dehavilland, Handley Page, General Hugh Trenchard, Lord Rothermere by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Applications in Operational Culture: Perspectives from the Field - Marine Corps Historical Perspective, Iraq, Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Pashtun Tribes, Iraqi Army, Long Fight in the Long War by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Strategic and Political Impacts of Collateral Damage from Strike Warfare: Air Campaigns and Bombing Damage in Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo, Target Selection, Ebb and Flow of Limitations by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2009-2017 Essential History of President Barack Obama - Speeches, State of the Union (SOTU) and Inaugural Addresses, Record on Economy, Health Care, Environment, Social Progress, World Leadership by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Osama bin Laden’s Death: Implications and Considerations - Congressional Research Service Report by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Army Medical Correspondence Course: Intravenous Infusions and Related Tasks - Obtaining Blood Specimen, Treatment for Anaphylactic Shock, Universal Body Substance Precautions by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Sri Lanka in Perspective: Orientation Guide and Tamil Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Security, LTTE, Islamist Violence, Colombo/Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Negombo, Kandy, Moors by Progressive Management
Cover of the book ATF Federal Explosives Law and Regulations: Including Regulations Developed in Response to the Safe Explosives Act of 2002 by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy