First U.S. air combat mission begins
Eight Curtiss Jenny planes of the First Aero Squadron take off from Columbus New Mexico in the first combat air mission in U.S.history.The First Aero Squadron organized in 1914 after the outbreak of World War I was on a support mission for the 7000 U.S.
troops who invaded Mexico to capture Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa.On March 9 1916 Villa who opposed American support for Mexican President Venustiano Carranza led a band of several hundred guerrillas across the border on a raid of the town of Columbus New Mexico killing 17 Americans.On March 15 under orders from President Woodrow Wilson U.S.Brigadier General John J.
Pershing launched a punitive expedition into Mexico to capture Villa.Four days later the First Aero Squadron was sent into Mexico to scout and relay messages for General Pershing.Despite numerous mechanical and navigational problems the American fliers flew hundreds of missions for Pershing and gained important experience that would later be used by the pilots over the battlefields of Europe.However during the 11-month mission U.S.
forces failed to capture the elusive revolutionary and Mexican resentment over U.S.intrusion into their territory led to a diplomatic crisis.In late January 1917 with President Wilson under pressure from the Mexican government and more concerned with the war overseas than with bringing Villa to justice the Americans were ordered home.
