US Pilot #2 Frank P. Lahm Aviator Autograph

in blue ink on the reverse of an original 1909 "Wright Bros. Celebration, Dayton, OH" postcard depicting the parade in Dayton celebrating the Wright's accomplishments that bears a July 31, 1909 Dayton OH cancel. Lahm has signed the postcard "Frank Lahm, Brig. Gen USAF Retired." Lahm (1877 - 1963) is considered one of the most important early military aviators. While vacationing with his father in Paris, France, he introduced himself to ballooning. In 1905 he completed the requirements of six balloon ascensions, earning his Federation Aeronautique Internationale license as a balloon pilot. Lahm and copilot Henry Heresy were the winners of the first Gordon Bennett balloon race. In 1906 he won the International Balloon Race, flying across the English Channel from Paris, France to Yorkshire, England. In 1907 Lahm, a West Point Graduate, personally reported to President Theodore Roosevelt on aeronautic information he had acquired in Europe. Lahm was stationed in Washington, D.C. in 1908 and 1909, assigned to the Aeronautical Division of the Signal Corps. There he experimented with both free and captive balloons. During the summer of 1908, he learned to fly the Army's first airship, Dirigible # 1. The Wrights' 1908 demonstrations of the Wright airplane by Wilbur in France and Orville in the United States, captured the attention of military leaders, statesmen, and the public. Lahm's support of the Wright Brothers was instrumental in the decision to award them the contract for the Army's first airplane. Orville Wright demonstrated a Wright Flyer's capabilities on September 3rd at Ft. Meyer, Virginia, ending all doubt of the airplane's military potential. Lahm was a member of the official board during the acceptance trials of the aircraft and a on September 9th, he accompanied Orville Wright on a flight of six minutes, a record at the time for two persons. The Wrights built another airplane for the Army in 1909. Following the completion of the trials of the Wright 1909 Flyer in July, it was purchased on August 2nd, 1909 by the U.S. Army Signal Corps and became Airplane # 1. Lahm was one of the two officers selected to be taught by the Wright Brothers to fly the airplane (the other was Lt. Frederic E. Humphreys). After three hours of instruction, Lahm soloed and became a pilot with Aero Club of America's pilot's license #2. The airplane was severely damaged in a crash on November 5th, 1909, and Lahm and Humphreys received transfers back to their original units. Lahm was assigned to the Philippines and in 1912 he opened a Signal Corps Flying School there at Fort William McKinley. In 1916 Lahm received an appointment as Secretary of the Signal Corps Flying School, North Island, near San Diego, California, and in August 1917 he sailed for Europe for a six-week inspection trip of activities in France and England. Instead of returning to the United States, he spent a year on the Front with both air and ground units. With the rank of captain, he organized and commanded balloon units in American Expeditionary Force. He organized and commanded the Air Service, Second American Army, becoming the first Army Chief of Aviation. The American Air Service Commanders in France, Frank Lahm, Mason Patrick, William "Billy" Mitchell, Benjamin Foulois, and Thomas Milling, organized and led the last big air battles of the war. After the war, Lahm remained in the military. On September 1st, 1926 he was promoted to brigadier general and detailed to San Antonio, Texas, to organize the first Air Corps Training Center at Duncan Field On June 21st, 1930, Lahm realized his dream with the dedication of Randolph Field, Texas, earning for himself the unofficial title of "Father of the West Point of the Air". In 1931 he became Air Attaché to France, Spain, and Belgium, returning to the U.S.A. in 1935 and becoming Air Officer of the Second Corps Area. In 1935 Became chief of aviation for First Army and In November 1941 he retired with the rank of brigadier general. Lahm was co-author with Colonel Charles deForest Chandler of "How Our Army Grew Wings". Minor corner fault does not detract from this autograph of an important early military aviator on an early historic aviation postcard..