Patrick, Mason M. (Mason Mathews), 1863-1942

Mason Mathews Patrick (b. Dec. 13, 1863, Lewisburg, West Va.-d. Jan. 29, 1942, Washington, D.C.), former Chief of the Army Air Service.

After graduating from West Point in 1889, Mason Patrick taught there for three years then worked on Mississippi River improvements before returning to West Point in 1903. He then was Chief Engineer for various river and harbor projects and, after, being promoted to Colonel, he was commander of the 1st United States Army Engineers working on the United States - Mexico border. By 1917, he was promoted to brigadier general working with the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), and in 1918 General John J. Pershing appointed Patrick commander of the combined Air Service of the AEF. As Chief of the Air Service in 1921, General Patrick established flight facilities at Wright Field, Ohio, and a training facility at San Antonio, where he learned to fly. Always an advocate for air service independence, in 1926 Patrick helped direct the reorganization of the Air Service as the Air Corps. Mason Patrick retired from the Army in 1927 as a Major General and then became Public Utilities Commissioner for the District of Columbia until 1933. He died in 1942 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1944 a U. S. Navy Transport ship was named in his honor and in 1950 Patrick Air Force Base in Florida was named for him.