1889-1956 |
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from Walker, Lois E. and Wickam, Shelby E., From Huffman Prairie to the Moon The History of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Published by the Air Force Logistics Command through the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 496 p. 1986. Courtesy of Paul V. Galvin Library Illinois Institute of Technology |
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From the saddle, aviation looked better and on December 2, 1915, he finally got himself ordered to Columbus Barracks, Ohio, for an examination into sanity and general fitness for detail in the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, after his request of 1912 had been turned down by the Department Commander at San Francisco. He was sent to the San Diego school, put on flying status for flying pay purposes, soloed about January 20, 1916, flew for his FAI certificate #489 May 17, rated Junior Military Aviation September 3, 1916, detailed First Lieutenant in the ASSC. |
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Library of Congress Collection, 9-14-07 |
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He was already on pilot duty with the 1st Aero Squadron since July 1, 1916, on the border and in
Mexico with the Punitive Expedition. In March of 1917 he was ordered to Fort Sam Houston for duty with the Third Aero Squadron, then being organized. Here Capt. Heffernan served in organization of ground personnel until July when he was assigned to the 12th Aero Squadron. He took this squadron and the 13th of Capt. Maxwell Kirby to Dayton, Ohio, to establish the flying complement for Wilbur Wright Field, which he commanded from November, 1917 to January, 1918 He was OIC advanced flying at Gerstner Field and Taylor Field and CO of Kelly Field #1 through August, 1918. In the AEF from September, 1918-May 1919, he was Air Service Commander of the 9th Army Corps while also commanding in turn the 2d Army Observation Gp., 4th and 5th Pursuit Gps., and 2d Day Bombardment Gp. From May, 1919 - September, 1925, he was CO Chapman Field, Fla., and CO 1st Surveillance Gp. on the Mexican Border. In the same period he organized the 3d Attack Gp. at Kelly Field and was Air Officer 1st Cavalry Division. I June 1926 he graduated from the A. C. Tactical School, then the Command Air General Staff School and was next Commandant the A. C. Technical School and CO Chanute Field. From 1930-1932 he was CO France Field, Panama, and Air Officer of the Panama Department. In 1934 he represented Anheuser-Busch in Central California and from then to March, 1949, has been liaison officer between sales and shipping departments of Lurrie Pizer Co., of Los Angeles. Courtesy of Steve Remington at COLLECTAIR |
Arrives in El Paso, Texas, 1924 Events reported in the World Flight Chronicle are true and drawn from primary and secondary sources and cited where appropriate. Historical fictionalization of stories is done purely to enhance readability. World Flight Chronicle, |
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You will find a reference to Leo at the meeting in Los Angeles by clicking on: Leo G. Heffernan and using the "Find" function on "Leo" |
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The History of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Also, if you scroll down toward the bottom of the page and click on the "Previous Image" button, you can see an equally beautiful photograph of Maj. Arthur R. Christie. |
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"In a blinding sandstorm, Major Leo G. Heffernan made the fastest flight on record, when he achieved an average speed of 250 miles an hour, according to an announcement of the War Department dated March 24." To read the whole article, just click on the title above. |
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From The Early Birds of Aviation Roster of Members, 1996 |
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