Benjamin Foulois

About

U.S. general who became the first pilot to serve in the U.S. Army and aided in the formation of the U.S. Air Force.

Before Fame

His visionary academic thesis on the future of air combat predicted the need for air reconnaissance.

Trivia

He served as commander of the Signal Corps Dirigible No. 1 during the airship's first field trial.

Family Life

He was born in Connecticut to a middle-class family.

Associated With

He accompanied Orville Wright on Wright's record-breaking flight from Fort Myer to Alexandria, Virginia, and later commissioned the Wright Model A as Signal Corps Aeroplane No. 1.