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Posted on 03/29/2005 9:29:57 PM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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Taking part in Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing's 1916 Mexican expedition was a learning experience for the U.S. Army's first air arm -- mainly in regard to its own deficiencies.  The first aero Company, New York National Guard, was called to Federal service during the border crisis with Mexico on July 13, 1916. This was the first time a National Guard aviation unit was mobilized. The unit was commanded by Capt. Raynel C. Bolling. The flight had been jinxed from the start. Pre-flight preparations consumed more time than expected, so the eight planes of the 1st Aero Squadron had not taken off until late in the afternoon on March 19, 1916. Not long after they flew south from Columbus, New Mexico, Lieutenant Walter G. Kilner had turned back with engine problems. Navigation errors contributed to the squadron's problems. Each plane carried a different type of compass, and the aviators were equipped with poor maps. Only one flier, Lieutenant Townsend F. Dodd, had ever made a night flight before. After the sun dropped behind the Sierra Madre, Gorrell lost sight of his fellow pilots and flew on alone. Finally, hopelessly lost, Gorrell turned and headed north again, but his plane had reached the limit of its endurance. With the engine on the verge of seizing up, the young pilot brought the crippled plane in for a rough but successful landing by moonlight. Gorrell knew that he was deep within enemy territory -- territory occupied by the mounted and heavily armed followers of Mexican revolutionary General Francisco "Pancho" Villa (the assumed name of Doroteo Arango). He drew his .45-caliber pistol, abandoned his plane and fled into the darkness. Gorrell's first journey into northern Mexico was typical of the fate awaiting the pilots of the 1st Aero Squadron, the only American air unit to fly in combat prior to World War I.  After 8 of 14 of its Wright-trained pilots were killed in 1914, the Army desperately sought a new, safe training aircraft - and following a period of testing and evaluation it ordered eight Curtiss JN-2 aircraft (Nos. 41-48); the first, No. 41, was received at North Island on June 21, 1915 The outbreak of World War I during the summer of 1914 first revealed the inadequacy of America's military aviation program. At the war's outset, the entire air force consisted of 12 officers, 54 men and six planes. At the same time, dozens of British, French and German airmen fought daily over the trenches of the Western Front. Although the numbers of U.S. men and aircraft tripled in the next year, then tripled again, the 1st Aero Squadron remained America's sole operational air unit until 1917. The squadron was organized in September 1914 and first based at North Island, San Diego. But in March 1915, five pilots, 30 men and three planes had been sent to Galveston, Texas, in response to tensions along the U.S.Mexican border. The entire squadron was transferred to Fort Sill, Okla., where the pilots were issued eight Curtiss JN-2s and charged with learning aerial artillery spotting. Shortly after arriving at Fort Sill, two planes and four pilots were transferred to Brownsville, Texas. It was there, on August 26, 1915, that the airmen first took up one of their new planes. Lieutenants J.C. Morrow and B.Q. Jones encountered turbulence at 1,100 feet, and their Jenny unexpectedly dropped 200 feet. The shaken aviators managed to coax the plane up to 4,500 feet but found it extremely difficult to control. On a subsequent flight, Morrow and his observer were badly hurt when their JN-2 nose-dived during takeoff and smashed into the ground.  The rest of the squadron also tried out the JN-2s and found them less than satisfactory. Pilot R.B. Sutton was badly injured and his observer (who sat in the front seat) was killed during one flight. After that accident, the artillery officers at Fort Sill categorically refused to fly in the JN-2s except during "war and in case of absolute necessity." The worried young pilot flew south, deeper into hostile territory, navigating by the stars. Below the fabric-covered wings of his Curtiss JN-3 "Jenny" darkness had already obscured the unfamiliar landscape of northern Mexico. Lieutenant Edgar S. Gorrell had never flown at night before, and his engine was overheating. The flight had been jinxed from the start. Pre-flight preparations consumed more time than expected, so the eight planes of the 1st Aero Squadron had not taken off until late in the afternoon on March 19, 1916. Not long after they flew south from Columbus, New Mexico, Lieutenant Walter G. Kilner had turned back with engine problems. Navigation errors contributed to the squadron's problems. Each plane carried a different type of compass, and the aviators were equipped with poor maps. Only one flier, Lieutenant Townsend F. Dodd, had ever made a night flight before. After the sun dropped behind the Sierra Madre, Gorrell lost sight of his fellow pilots and flew on alone. Finally, hopelessly lost, Gorrell turned and headed north again, but his plane had reached the limit of its endurance. With the engine on the verge of seizing up, the young pilot brought the crippled plane in for a rough but successful landing by moonlight.  Lt. Gorrell, left, and unknown pilot, Mexico, 1916: Gorrell knew that he was deep within enemy territory -- territory occupied by the mounted and heavily armed followers of Mexican revolutionary General Francisco "Pancho" Villa (the assumed name of Doroteo Arango). He drew his .45-caliber pistol, abandoned his plane and fled into the darkness. Gorrell's first journey into northern Mexico was typical of the fate awaiting the pilots of the 1st Aero Squadron, the only American air unit to fly in combat prior to World War I. The outbreak of World War I during the summer of 1914 first revealed the inadequacy of America's military aviation program. At the war's outset, the entire air force consisted of 12 officers, 54 men and six planes. At the same time, dozens of British, French and German airmen fought daily over the trenches of the Western Front. Although the numbers of U.S. men and aircraft tripled in the next year, then tripled again, the 1st Aero Squadron remained America's sole operational air unit until 1917. The squadron was organized in September 1914 and first based at North Island, San Diego. But in March 1915, five pilots, 30 men and three planes had been sent to Galveston, Texas, in response to tensions along the U.S.Mexican border. The entire squadron was transferred to Fort Sill, Okla., where the pilots were issued eight Curtiss JN-2s and charged with learning aerial artillery spotting.  Pancho Villa, Alvaro Obregon and John J. Pershing Shortly after arriving at Fort Sill, two planes and four pilots were transferred to Brownsville, Texas. It was there, on August 26, 1915, that the airmen first took up one of their new planes. Lieutenants J.C. Morrow and B.Q. Jones encountered turbulence at 1,100 feet, and their Jenny unexpectedly dropped 200 feet. The shaken aviators managed to coax the plane up to 4,500 feet but found it extremely difficult to control. On a subsequent flight, Morrow and his observer were badly hurt when their JN-2 nose-dived during takeoff and smashed into the ground. The rest of the squadron also tried out the JN-2s and found them less than satisfactory. Pilot R.B. Sutton was badly injured and his observer (who sat in the front seat) was killed during one flight. After that accident, the artillery officers at Fort Sill categorically refused to fly in the JN-2s except during "war and in case of absolute necessity."
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Hi miss Feather
Cool! I've found the Bipe plans. It's a single 36" sheet, so I've been waiting for a lull in the action to put the 36" paper in the plotter. We typically use 24" and 30" spools.
Is the chamber empty or loaded? Do you have the hammer down?
Looks like Cyrillic is not supported.
Morning SZonian
Morning PE
Hi Feather.
"We have a very daring and skillful opponent against us, and, may I say across the havoc of war, a great general."
- Churchill about Rommel
Chamber is always loaded. ;-)
"We're the Far Right!!"
(To be sung to Eric Clapton's version of J. J. Cale's "After Midnight")
We're the Far Right...we're gonna scale Big Guv'ment down!!
We're the Hard Right...we're gonna whup Dem Libs in a rout!!
We're gonna help Bush git some traction...
Right's gonna demand satisfaction....
Left's gonna find out what Right is all about.
We're the Far Right...we're gonna FReep DemRATS from Power!!
We're the Far Right...we'll fulfill Founding Father's dreams...
Truth yields our Might...righteous gonna make Dem sosh'lists scream!!
We're gonna FReep talk and television...
Left shall heap on their vile derison...
Left's gonna find out what Truth is all about!!
RATS, we don't bite...still gonna FReep yer slime from Power!!
(Guitar-jammin' interlude)
Yeah, yeah...We're the Far Right...we're gonna FReep Dem RATS from Power!!
We're the Far Right...we'll fulfill Founding Father's dreams...
Traitors we'll fight...RightWing's gonna make Dem Leftists scream!!
We're gonna FReep Rush and Hanni-vision...
Left shall fear our deadly precision...
Left's gonna find out what Truth is all about!!
America's Right...still gonna FReep RATS' SCUM from Power!!
We're the Far Right...we're gonna FReep Dem fools from Power!!
Ain't 'fraid to fight...Right's gonna WHUP Dem Lefties down!!
Left, say "GoodBye"...November's when yer goin' down!!
We're the Far Right...we're gonna scale Big Guv'ment down!!
Mudboy Slim (5/19/04)
Cool beans! Hubby will be tickled.
LOL. No, my hand gun is a Glock.
Otherwise, the Chamber meetings are pretty fun, although awfully early in the morning. The meetings are every Wednesday at 7:45 a.m., coffee and light food fare is provided by whatever business is hosting the weekly meeting. About 80-90 small business owners are there along with the occassional police officer, fireman, county recylcling reps, etc.
It's very informal and people bring stuff for drawings and of course we meet new members and find out what's going on in town, charitable events and other happenings.
We are going to host the Chamber in June. No way can we fit that many folks in here but we are hoping for good weather so we can hang around outside and in.
LOL. You guys are funny today.
I want to see the pics of Wright Pat too!
Thanks PE. btw, I like your tagline.
Good afternoon Aeronaut.
Lower 80's? I'm envious. Still light rain here, cloudy and in the 50's.
Good afternoon feather.
Good afternoon Mayor. How's the Mrs. today?
~waving~
the evil college server is keepin' me of FR today.
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