Major General Benjamin D. Foulois

US Air Force Military Biographies, Annual, 2004

1914 First commander of a tactical air unit (1st Aero Squadron) First commander of the first mechanized tactical unit in the U.S. Army (1st Aero Squadron)

1916 First to use an aircraft in a combat operation (Mexico)

1918 First chief of Air Service, AEF, 1st Army

1931 First chief of Air Corps to be a military aviator

1933 First Air Corps chief to be awarded Mackay Trophy

1962 First Honorary Staff Member of Air Force Systems Command

1964 First honorary member of the Aerospace Primus Club

In addition to the above list of firsts, the following honorary titles and awards have been made to General Foulois

Honorary Fellow, Society of Experimental Test Pilots

Honorary Senior Communicator of the U.S. Air Force

Honorary Member, Institute of Navigation

Air Force Association Citation of Honor in the 50th Anniversary Year of the Silver Wings (1963)

Member, National Aviation Hall of Fame, 1963

He was promoted to first lieutenant Oct. 16, 1906; to captain July 23, 1914; to major June 27, 1917; to brigadier general (temporary) July 24, 1917; reverted to the grade of major July 21, 1919; was promoted to lieutenant colonel Feb. 1, 1923; to brigadier general Dec. 20, 1927; and to major general Dec. 20, 1931.