Foulois, Benjamin Delahauf, 1879-1967

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Benjamin "Benny" Delahauf Foulois (December 9, 1879 – April 25, 1967) was a United States Army general who learned to fly the first military planes purchased from the Wright Brothers. He became the first military aviator as an airship pilot, and achieved numerous other military aviation "firsts". He led strategic development of the Air Force in the United States.

Foulois was born in Washington, Connecticut to a Franco-American pipe-fitter and a Boston-born nurse. At age 18, he used his older brother’s birth certificate to enlist in the Army to support the Spanish-American War, but arrived in Puerto Rico just weeks before the armistice was signed. He served with the engineers in 1898-1899 and the Infantry in 1899-1901. In 1901, he received his commission as a second lieutenant and upon graduation from the Army Signal School on June 19, 1908, he was detailed to aeronautical duty.

Appointed to an Aeronautical Board of Signal Corps Officers for conducting airship and airplane performance trails, Foulois was one of three officers taught to fly Dirigible No. 1 in August 1908 following its acceptance. He participated in the trials of the Wright 1909 Flyer and the Army Airplane #1. During the trials of the Wright 1909 Flyer, Foulois served on the official board and during the speed qualifications test by Orville Wright, was the passenger carried in accordance with provisions of the contract.

Foulois was selected along with Lt. Frank P. Lahm to become one of the two Army officers to be taught to fly the Army’s first airplane, but before training could be initiated, he was sent to France as the official delegate from the United States to the International Congress of Aeronautics. Returning from Europe in October 1909, he was given flight training on the Army’s first airplane, but on November 5 the craft was damaged. He was then ordered to take the airplane and a small group of enlisted men to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, and teach himself to fly it. Despite the lack of adequate funds and support, Foulois began his course of self-instruction, aided by letters from the Wright Brothers which provided sound advice for correcting his piloting errors. In order to keep the plane in flying condition, he was forced to supplement an official allotment of $150 with personal funds.

Relieved from flying in July 1911, Foulois returned to aviation duty with the Signal Corps Aviation School in North Island, San Diego, California, in December 1913. He later commanded the 1st Aero Squadron in Mexico during the campaign to arrest the bandit Pancho Villa in 1916 and served as Chief of Air Service, A.E.F. in France for a period in 1917-1918. He oversaw the Materiel Division at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio in 1929-1930, and on December 20, 1931, he became Chief of Army Air Corps. Foulois retired from active military service on December 31, 1935. He died at age 87 on April 25, 1967 at Andrews Air Force Base and is buried in Washington, Connecticut.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MERCURY MONUMENT DEDICATION, CAPE KENNEDY, FLORIDA National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Foulois, Benjamin Delahauf, 1879-1967. Foulois, B. D., Papers, 1954 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Army Staff. 1903 - 2009. Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Military Personnel, Defense Department and Other Government Officials, Royalty, and Heads of State. 1964-1974. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Biography -- Foulois, Benjamin. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Seymour Dunham Collection, 1889-1990 Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Milton Caniff Collection, 1805-2007, 1910-1988 The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. X-15 FLIGHT 1-33-54 (EDWARDS AFB, CALIFORNIA) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN D. FOULOIS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright Papers, 1809-1979, (bulk 1900-1948) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MARTIN DELIVERS LAST OF B-57 BOMBERS MODIFIED FOR USE IN REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. OPERATION NEWS FLASH (GENERAL FOULOIS FILM) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Military -- Air Force. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers First Flight National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Goddard, George W., 1889-1987. Papers, 1889-1983 (bulk 1940-1976). Library of Congress
referencedIn Ira Eaker Papers, 1917-1989, (bulk 1942-1945) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. FIRST AIR DEPOT AND 96TH AERO SQUADRON IN FRANCE, 1918 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. HONORS AWARDED TO MAJ. GEN. FOULOIS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Army Air Corp. Air Mail Accidents: February-April 1934 Special Collection, 1934-1939 San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. WHO'S WHO IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AFA CONVENTION, DALLAS, TEXAS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn William Peters Aviation Photograph Collection, 1903-1964, 1908-1930 Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PIONEER FLIGHTS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. STRATOSPHERE FLIGHT OF BALLOON National Archives at College Park
referencedIn George W. Goddard Papers, 1889-1984, (bulk 1940-1976) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Foulois, B. D. Papers 2000-117., 1954 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN D. FOULOIS (RET) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION BALL, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ALASKAN FLIGHT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. LIEUTENANT GEN. ARMSTRONG'S RETIREMENT, ELMENDORF AFB, ALASKA, 29 -- 31 JULY 1961 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. FIRST ASTRONAUT WINGS PRESENTATION National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Smithers, W. D. Collection 70-38., 1907-1930 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Copp, DeWitt S., 1919-1999. Copp collection, 1912-1981. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. WRIGHT BROTHERS VISITOR CENTER DEDICATION, KILL DEVIL HILL National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. US MILITARY AVIATION IN THE NEWSREELS OF 1934 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Benjamin Delahauf Foulois Papers 1898-1966 (bulk 1908-1935) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Frank Maxwell Andrews Papers, 1920-1943, (bulk 1935-1942) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AVIATION HALL OF FAME AWARDS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR GENERAL FOULOIS FIRST CROSS COUNTRY TRIP (INTERVIEW), ANDREWS AFB, MARYLAND National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Foulois, Benjamin Delahauf, 1879-1967. Papers, 1898-1966 (bulk 1917-1935). Library of Congress
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. DAYTON MANEUVERS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN D. FOULOIS PRESENTED MEDAL National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PRESENTATION OF GENERAL THOMAS D. WHITE SPACE TROPHY TO AFSC, WASHINGTON, D.C National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. HISTORY OF AVIATION, COMMEMORATING THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FIRST FLIGHT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. CLOSE UP-FIGHTER IN FLIGHT (MAJ GEN FOULOIS INTERVIEW) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Smithers, W. D. (Wilfred Dudley), 1895-1981. Smithers, W. D. Collection, 1907-1930 University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Foulois, Benjamin Delahauf, 1879-1967. Foulois collection, 1880-1968. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
creatorOf Brown, Preston, 1872-1948. Detachment Ninth Observation Group Air Corps, Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont : instructions for using code letters, 1927. Vermont Historical Society
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Aeronautical oddities, Brig Gen Foulois, USS Langley, and Airship quot;Los Angelesquot; footage National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ARMY AIR CORPS NEWS IN 1932 NEWSREELS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. WINGS OF THE ARMY. PRODUCED BY US ARMY AIR CORPS National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Foulois, Benjamin Delahauf, 1879-1967. Reminiscences of Benjamin Delahauf Foulois : oral history, 1960. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ARMY AIR CORPS LARGEST MANEUVER National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. HISTORY OF AVIATION National Archives at College Park
Relation Name
correspondedWith Andrews, Frank Maxwell, 1884-1943. person
correspondedWith Arnold, Henry Harley, 1886-1950 person
correspondedWith Chandler, Charles de Forest, 1878-1939 person
associatedWith Copp, DeWitt S., 1919-1999. person
associatedWith Dunham, Seymour, 1910- person
associatedWith Eaker, Ira, 1896-1987. person
correspondedWith Farley, James Aloysius, 1888- person
associatedWith Goddard, George W., 1889-1987. person
correspondedWith Lahm, Frank Purdy, 1877-1963 person
correspondedWith LeMay, Curtis E. person
associatedWith Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974. person
correspondedWith Marshall, George C. (George Catlett), 1880-1959 person
associatedWith Milton Caniff person
associatedWith Peters, William H. person
associatedWith Shaughnessy, Donald F., person
associatedWith Smithers, W. D. person
associatedWith Smithers, W. D. (Wilfred Dudley), 1895-1981. person
correspondedWith Spaatz, Carl, 1891-1974 person
correspondedWith Twining, Nathan F. (Nathan Farragut), 1897-1982 person
associatedWith United States. Air Corps corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Air Force. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Air Corps corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army Air Forces. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1918. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Signal Corps corporateBody
correspondedWith White, Thomas D. (Thomas Dresser), 1901-1965 person
associatedWith Wright, Orville, 1871-1948. person
correspondedWith Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Washington CT US
Maryland MD US
Fort Sam Houston TX US
Subject
Aeronautics
Aeronautics, Military
Aeronautics, Military
Aeronautics, Military
Aeronautics, Military
Air bases
Air bases
Air mail service
Air pilots
Air pilots
Aviation
Civil defense
Diplomatic and consular service, American
Diplomatic and consular service, American
Legislation
Military attachés
Military attachés
Spanish
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Air pilots, Military
Army officers
Aviators
Major General
Major General (Retired)
Military attachʹes
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1879-12-09

Death 1967-04-25

Male

Americans

English

Information

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