The Mexican punitive expedition and the United States Army Aviation Section

The United States Army Signal Corps Aviation Section was a weak air service devoted primarily to experimental testing prior to World War I. In March 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered a punitive expedition into Mexico to capture the Mexican nationalist, Francisco (Panco) Villa. One of the organizations assigned to the expedition was the Frist Aero Squadron: The Signal Corps\u27 only operational unit. This study examines the Mexican punitive expedition, preparedness for World War I, and the development of United States air power. It concludes that the Mexican punitive expedition was a critical point in the history of the United States Air Force