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

WWI
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.

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.

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.

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.

First and Only Distinguished Flying Cross Recipient from World War I
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.