Page:Legislative History of the AAF and USAF.djvu/9

 �This Page Declassified lAW EO12958 2 m USAF I-Imouct of extra pay and death benefits for flying personnel. The first legislative reference to civil aviation in the United States was the Act of March 3, 1915 by which a National viory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was created. s Made up of members repre- senting the War and Navy Departments, the Smith, onion Institution, the Bureau of Standards, and of civilian members skilled in aeronautical affairs, the NACA had as its primary function the supervision and direction of scientific studies, research, and experiments in matters concerning aero- nautics and the problems of flight.  Al- though the NACA was not a military or- ganization, it performed useful services for military aviation in analyzing the prob- lems of aircraft construction and opera- rich, and by aisting in plans for the pro- duction and testing of aircraft and the training of aviators. The National Defense Act of June 3, 1916 contained several provisions directly con- eerning military aviation. [t provided that the officer personnel of the Aviation Section should consist of 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant colonel, $ majors, 24 captains, and 114 lieu- tenants, all of whom were to be qualified to serve as military aviators and detailed to serve as aviation officers for 4-year periods. Military aviators of rank not higher than that of captain were to receive the pay and allowances of a grade higher than their regular commiion and flying pay ranõ- tug from 25 to 75 per cent of their base pay, if they were required to participate regularly and frequently in military ghts. All previous restrictions as to marriage and age were removed. 0 On 29 August 1916 Congress, taking cog- nizance of the increasing importance of military aviation, appropriated $13,881,$66 for the Army Aviation Section. In addition to the usual provisions of an ap- propriation act, the measure provided money for the training of reserve officers and enlisted men and for the development of an improved aviation engine. The year 1916 also saw the introduction in Congress of the first of a long series of bills designed to create a Department of Aviation. This bill, introduced by Congress. man Charles Lieb of Indiana, proposed to set up a separate executive departmen headed by a Secretary of Aviation, who should be a regular member of the Presi- dent's cabinet. The department was to have under its jurisdiction the supervision and promotion of all aviation relating to the Army and Navy, as well as the expansion of commercial aviation in the public inter- est. This measure received little support and was never reported out of the House Committee on Military Affairs.  America's entrance into World War I brought about a great expansion of the Army's air arm and resulted in much legis- lation concerning military aviation. On 16 May 191 an Air Board was created on the recommendation of the Council of National Defense. This board, made up of military and civilian members, was to consider quart, tity production of aircraft, to coordinate the demands of the Army and Navy, and to establish school and training fields Since the a'venes was limited by the fact that it had neither legal status nor executive powers, it was superseded by the Aircraft Board provided for in an act of October 1, 1917. Under the provisions of this ac the Aircraft Board was to expand and coordinate aircraft production, and to supervise and direct the purchase and pro- duction of aircraft. The Board's major achievement was the development of the "Liberty Motor. " The aviation act of July 9.4, 191, passed by Congress following a great wave of pub- lic enthusiasm over the idea of overwhelm- ing Germany with "a cloud of planes," made a huge appropriation of $640,000,000 to be used in building up a great Army air arm. But it was discovered that enthusiasm, manpower, and raw material were not enough to build up tremendous air power in the space of a few months. When the United States entered World War I the Army air arm could muster only 225 planes, and not a one of these was a combat model by European standards. Of the 2,925 planes which reached the AEF's Zone of Advance during the war only 696 were of American make. The war was over before the Ameri- THIS PAGE Declassified lAW EO12958