While the Army and Navy were organizationally unprepared for this first trial by fire, a handful of gallant flyers showed that America had both decent flying machines, and the daring men who could pilot them into future victories.

Sébastien Roblin holds a master’s degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring.

Image: Creative Commons.