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= James Ely Miller = James Ely Miller (March 14, 1883 - March 9, 1918) was a financier who volunteered to be a US Air Corp Captain and 95th Aero Squadron Commander during World War I.

Miller was a vice-president of the Columbia Trust Company in 1912. After volunteering for service to fight in World War I, in 1915 he became both pilot and instructor. He was the first commander of the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center (3rd AIC), first American aviator Killed-In-Action during World War I, first to have received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for which it was initially intended [posthumously], and first US Airman eligible to receive the Purple Heart.

Early life
James Ely Miller was born in New York City on March 14, 1883 to a prominent merchant and banking family.

University
Miller attended Yale University as a legacy, where he became a “Bonesman” in the Skull and Bones society, and participated in the University crew, and football teams. Miller graduated from Yale in 1904.

Professional Life
After graduating from Yale in 1904 with the highest honors, Captain Miller began working at the Knickerbocker Trust Company, one of the largest banks in American history in the 1900’s, serving as secretary of the company. In 1912, Captain Miller took over as vice-president of the Columbia Trust Company.

Military Service
Captain Miller volunteered for service to fight in World War I, shortly before the United States declared war with Germany. He learned to fly in 1915 at the Plattsburg Training Camp, successively qualifying as a pilot and as an instructor. Shortly thereafter, Captain Miller helped organize the First Airplane Company of New York National Guard which was then commanded by Major Raynal C. Bolling and mustered into federal service on April 27th, 1917.

On July 23, 1917 Captain Miller received orders to deploy overseas to command the 1st Reserve Aero Squadron; Signal Corps. There he joined General Pershing’s staff who led the American Expeditionary Force in Paris, France. Soon thereafter, in August 1917, Colonel Bolling appointed Captain Miller as the first commander of the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center (3rd AIC) in Issoudon France. The 3rd AIC was one of the most important flight training centers during World War I and developed into the largest flying training center in the world. Captain Miller was charged with the creation, building, and organization of the American flying school and was directed to have the school established in 60 days. After standing up the Issoudon training center, Captain Miller attended the French Aerial Gunnery School in Cazaux and completed the course to qualify himself for Aerial Combat.

When the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918, Issoudun was the largest flying school in the world. More than 1,800 men had attended advanced training at Issoudun, of whom 829 completed the pursuit course, 627 served in combat against the Germans on the Western Front, and 202 became instructors. The combat record of those who went to the front speaks for itself—781 enemy planes and 73 balloons destroyed at the cost of 289 aircraft and 48 balloons lost by the AEF. It became the precursor of all military aviation training to follow. Captain Miller would introduce Eddie Rickenbacker into his social circle of friends thereby being the first to open the doors to aviation for a man not born to privilege, regardless of social standing. Miller went on to teach Rickenbacker to fly, at Issoudun, after Colonel Billy Mitchell was persuaded to release him from Pershing’s staff.

On February 20, 1918, Major Bert M. Atkinson, commander of the 1st Pursuit Organization at the Training Center, selected Captain Miller to command the 95th Aero Squadron.

On March 9, 1918 the 95th Aero Squadron became operational. On the afternoon of that same day, Captain Miller, Major Davenport Johnson and Major M.F. Harmon left for the first offensive combat air patrol.

World War I
FIRST AND ONLY DFC RECEIVED FOR WHICH IT WAS ORIGNALLY INTENDED

95th Aero Squadron Commander and Army Capt. James E. Miller, one of the first aviators in the U.S. military and the first U.S. aviation casualty in World War I, has been named recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross nearly 100 years after his heroic actions over France in 1918. On the 242nd birthday of the Army, during a twilight tattoo ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, Acting Secretary of the Army Robert M. Speer presented the Distinguished Flying Cross to Miller's great-grandson, Byron Derringer. “We're very proud today to have some of the descendants from James Miller's family here and able to represent him and a lineage of what he achieved on those battlefields as the first individual who gave his life in that war in aviation," Speer said. The presentation of the cross to a World War I soldier is significant, given that the theme for this year's Army birthday is, "Over There! A Celebration of the World War I Soldier."

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There are two historically significant aspects to the long overdue presentation of awards to the family and survivors of Capt. James Ely Miller. At the time of his death on 9 March, 1918, Capt. Miller was serving as commanding officer of the 95th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F), when his SPAD S.VII.C.I was shot down behind enemy lines while engaged in aerial combat with four German biplanes in the vicinity of Corbeny, France. As we approach nearly the centennial anniversary of the A.E.F.’s deployment and engagement in active combat operations, the historical significance of Capt. Miller’s valor and heroism take on a much larger role.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS

The Distinguished Flying Cross was established by Act of Congress in 1926 to honor the valor and heroism of WW I aviators. The first medal was presented to Charles Lindbergh on June 11, 1927 by the President Calvin Coolidge. The Distinguished Flying Cross Society, supported by research from the National World War I museum in Kansas City, MO can find no occasion of a WW I pilot actually receiving the award.

Therefore, the presentation of the award to Capt. James Ely Miller would be the first occasion of the Distinguished Flying Cross actually being presented to a recipient for which it was originally intended.

PURPLE HEART

The Purple Heart originally conceived as a Badge of Military Merit and established by George Washington on August 7, 1782, was modified to replace Wound Chevrons subsequent to April 5th, 1917, by G.O. No. 3 on February 22nd, 1932. Today the purple heart is awarded to any member of the Armed Services, after April 5th, 1917, who has been wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States.

Capt. James Ely Miller, by his sacrifice, became the first U.S. airman eligible for the Purple Heart to die in air-to-air combat against an enemy, while serving in an armed force of the United States.

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Captain Ely Miller is an American World War I aviation hero whose story of valor and sacrifice is truly unique. He posthumously received the very first Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) ever being presented to a recipient from World War I, for which the award was originally intended. Additionally, Miller, by his sacrifice, became the first U.S. airman, eligible for the Purple Heart, to die in air-to-air combat against any enemy, while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Captain Miller lost his life in the worldwide fight for humanity and civilization. He unhesitatingly and fearlessly exposed himself to enemy planes and heroically volunteered his efforts to defend this great nation.

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Captain James Ely Miller American Legion Post 833

Miller Field, New Dorp Ln, Staten Island, NY

American Legion

Gale Academic Onefile

This Day in Aviation - Important Dates in Aviation History

The Distinguished Flying Cross Society - DFC Society News Magazine Article, Member Spotlight - Captain James Ely Miller, by J. Bruce Huffman

The Times of Smithtown, American Legion James Ely Miller Post Celebrates its 100th Anniversary, Community News pg A8

Daedalus Flyer, Long Due Tribute Rendered, Fall 2017, pgs 6-8, Author Bruce Huffman, Submitted by Chuck Sweeney

Aviation History Magazine, America's Only World War I DFC, The First U.S. Army Air Service Pilot to Die in Combat Received a Posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross - 99 Years After He Was Killed, September 2018 pg, 12, 14, by Jon Guttman

The United States World War One Centennial Commission

The United States Army, First Fallen Aviator of World War I Honored with Distinguished Flying Cross

The United States Department of Defense, Fallen World War I Aviator Gets Posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross

The Distinguished Flying Cross Society, DFC Society Makes 100 Year Connection - A Legacy from WWI to WWII to Today

Remembrance
On January 5, 1920, the Air Service Coast Defense field at New Dorp, Staten Island, New York was named Miller Field in memory of Captain James Ely Miller, killed in action, March 8, 1918, 4 kilometers north of Corbeny (Aisne), France.

Legacy
The 3rd Air Instructional Center at Issodun played the founding role in all aviation instruction that would follow. The adoption of progressive learning techniques from the simple to the complex laid the foundation on which all that would follow was built. Employing the Bleriot method of academics followed by an iterative process of explanation and demonstration, trial and practice including review and critique; moving the student to evermore complex flight training devices (simulators or Penguins) while the learner built on a foundation of academic theory moving progressively to practical application. Even though the British method of instruction (Smith-Barry) attempted to address a 41% accident rate in their graduate pilots; the methods employed in the 3rd AIC resulted in a far more capable airman as validated by their demonstrated success in combat. Even then, a WW I pilot still had only a 40 to 70-hour life expectancy once deployed to an operational assignment.

Capt. James Ely Miller, as the first commander of the 3rd AIC, began the process of aviation training still in use today and deserves his place in history for laying the cornerstone.

Changing American/Military History
On December 7, 2010, after several months of back and forth for an accurate script, Captain James Ely Miller is added to the World War I permanent exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum located in Washington, DC.

On June 14, 2017, the 242nd birthday of the U.S. Army, a ceremony was held at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia to pay belated honors to Captain James Ely Miller, who had played a brief but significant role in developing the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I. James Ely Miller, received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), from the Secretary of the Army and General Milley, an award that didn’t exist when he became the first member of the USAS to be killed in combat nearly a century ago.

Miller receiving the DFC highlights two historical aspects of Captain James Ely Miller’s valor and heroism; Miller posthumously received the first Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) ever being presented to a recipient from World War I, for which the award was originally intended. Additionally, Miller, by his sacrifice became the first U.S. airman, eligible for the Purple Heart, to die in air-to-air combat against any enemy, while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.