The Army Air Service Agreement: A Brief History

The Army Air Service Agreement was a landmark agreement signed between the United States Army and the United States Navy in 1917, during World War I. The agreement established the Army Air Service as an autonomous military branch under the authority of the War Department, which was responsible for providing air support to the army ground forces.

Prior to the agreement, the Army and Navy had both been developing their own air forces independently. The Navy argued that it needed its own air service to protect its fleet, while the Army believed that it needed an independent air service to provide close air support to its ground troops.

However, the War Department eventually realized that it would be more efficient to have a unified air service. The Army Air Service Agreement was therefore signed as a compromise, with the Army Air Service being responsible for providing air support to the ground forces while the Navy was responsible for providing air support to the naval forces.

The agreement was signed on July 24, 1917, and officially took effect on August 1, 1917. It established the Army Air Service as a separate branch of the military, with its own commander-in-chief and organization. The agreement also provided for the training of pilots and the procurement of aircraft and equipment.

During World War I, the Army Air Service played a crucial role in the war effort, providing air support to the ground forces in Europe. Its pilots flew reconnaissance missions, conducted bombing raids on enemy positions, and provided close air support to the infantry. By the end of the war, the Army Air Service had become the largest air force in the world, with over 190,000 personnel and over 11,000 aircraft.

After the war, the Army Air Service was reorganized and eventually became the United States Army Air Corps in 1926, and later the United States Army Air Forces in 1941. In 1947, the Army Air Forces were separated from the Army and became the United States Air Force.

Today, the Army and the Air Force continue to work together closely, with the Army providing ground support while the Air Force provides air support. The Army Air Service Agreement was a key milestone in the development of the United States military`s air power, and its legacy lives on to this day.