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By Root 2216 0

The project had been abandoned almost immediately, but to Pershing’s dismay, Foulois had gained considerable influence at the War Department. When he arrived in France, Foulois had been accompanied by an entire staff of officers, none with any experience at all in dealing with either aircraft or pilots. Though Bliss’ orders recalled Kenly to Washington, Mitchell had simply been overlooked, to Pershing’s enormous relief, and Pershing had made it clear to Foulois that Billy Mitchell would maintain his position and his authority. In a short time, Foulois had established his command over the nonexistent air force, and wisely kept his distance from Pershing, relying on Mitchell to act as go-between. Pershing had to hope that Foulois might yet grow into his role, and Pershing had assigned the man’s entire staff to focus on one priority: training pilots. If Pershing needed to know something about aeroplanes, he spoke to Mitchell. But Pershing was not in the mood for Mitchell’s carping, did not need to be reminded of this most blatant interference by Tasker Bliss.

“Get to it, Colonel.”

“Now, General, it makes sense to me that if you are building an air service from the ground up, the most valuable commodity would be experience. Put the right men in the right place. I realize that Washington is as yet unaware of that piece of wisdom.” He winked at Pershing through his hard frown. “Yourself excluded, sir.” Pershing’s weariness was shortening his patience, and Mitchell seemed to sense it, said, “General, I know of no more capable and useful addition to our efforts at creating an air service than the pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille.”

“Agreed.”

“Well, that’s good to hear, sir. Because, you see, General Foulois insisted that every prospective pilot be given a physical examination. Sounds logical, certainly. But I regret to inform you, sir, that every damned member of the Lafayette Escadrille was found to be below the standards required by our esteemed General Foulois. In other words, sir, the best American pilots on God’s green earth have been found to be to be unworthy to fly for us.”

Pershing felt his mouth opening, stared at Mitchell, expected a smile, instead saw quivering anger in the old man’s face. “You’re serious.”

Mitchell reached into his coat, retrieved a paper. “It’s all right here, sir. The entire list. Every damned one of them.”

Pershing scanned the names, many of them familiar. “Lufbery? Thaw?”

“Especially Thaw. Blind as a bat. Of course, that hasn’t kept him from knocking a few Fokkers out of the air. Lufbery’s got rheumatism, or some damned thing. One of the few men in France who I’d back in a fight against the Red Baron. But, he’s no good for us, no sir. We need men who are physically fit.”

Pershing focused on the list, said, “Have you brought this to General Foulois’ attention?”

“What do you think, sir? Of course I did. The stupid . . . sorry, sir. The regrettably inflexible man said, Well, rules are rules.”

It was one more annoyance, one more lead weight settling down into Pershing’s brain. He shouted, “Lieutenant!”

A young man appeared at the door. “Yes, sir?”

“Bring yourself and a pad of paper. I have an order I need to communicate to General Foulois. We’re going to make a few changes.”

Mitchell finally smiled.

LA NOBLETTE, FRANCE—DECEMBER 1917

THEY WERE FARTHER WEST OF VERDUN NOW, ANOTHER STRATEGIC relocation to place the squadron toward the center of the front-line activity. With the winter would again come the quiet time, and already some of the pilots had been granted leave by the Aeronautique Militaire. Ted Parsons had made the dangerous sea voyage to America, was visiting his family in Massachusetts for the first time in two years. Others were gone as well, but for some it was not time for a vacation.

With the increasing organization of the American Air Service, the French had complied with the request of the American command to release the American pilots from their official attachment to the French army. The Americans had to face the reality that unless they took steps to transfer