Aviation Act of 1917

Aviation Act of 1917 was a United States military appropriations bill authorizing a temporary increase for the United States Army Signal Corps. The Act of Congress authorized provisions for airship or dirigible operations governed by the U.S. Army Signal Corps Aeronautical Division. The legislation provided United States President Woodrow Wilson emergency authority for the maintenance, manufacture, operation, purchase, and repair of airships and associated aerial machines.

Aviation Act of 1917
Long titleAn Act to authorize the President to increase temporarily the Signal Corps of the Army and to purchase, manufacture, maintain, repair, and operate airships, and to make appropriations therefor, and for other purposes.
Enacted bythe 65th United States Congress
EffectiveJuly 24, 1917
Citations
Public lawPub.L. 65–29
Statutes at Large40 Stat. 243
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House as H.R. 5326 by S. Hubert Dent Jr. (D–AL)
  • Signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on July 24, 1917

Sections of the Act

In an attempt to meet the progressive necessities of World War I, House bill 5326 was penned as ten sections by the United States 65th Congressional session.

Sec. 1 – Temporary Increase of Army Signal Corps and Aviation Sections
Sec. 2 – Additional Commissioned Personnel Authorized
Qualifications
Appointments by U.S. President
Appointments by U.S. President and Senate
Sec. 3 – Additional Enlisted Men by Enlistment or Draft
Age limit for men drafted
Chauffeur grades created
Chauffeur pay and rank
Sec. 4 – Organization of Tactical Units
Headquarters and detachment units
Sec. 5 – General Officers Appointed for Staff and Other Duties
Temporary appointments for created vacancies
Sec. 6 – Rating of Aviators and Aeronauts
Certificates of qualifications
Examinations
Ratings for service requirements
Exceptions in war time
Aeronauts rank increase
Flight duty financial compensation
Sec. 7 – Ratings of Enlisted Mechanicians
Balloon mechanicians compensation
Sec. 8 – U.S. Army Comprehensive Compensation
U.S. Army troop strength levels
Sec. 9 – Emergency Authority for Airships and Aerial Machines
Buildings and motor vehicles
Aviation stations
Sites and buildings
Use of public lands
Improvements of sites
Buildings and structures
Water, lights, and plumbing
Roads and wharves
Subsistence equipments
Fuel supplies
Construction machinery and tools
Special clothing
Domestic and abroad travel expenses
Vocational training
Compensation for reserve officers and enlisted personnel called into service
Pay accounts
Development of airplanes and engines
Manufacturing plants maintenance
Schools for aviation technical instructions
New equipment exchanges
Foreign instructors travel compensation within the United States
Sec. 10 – Appropriation

Associated United States Federal Statutes

United States legislation for the governance, service, and training of airships designed and developed for military operations.

Date of Enactment Public Law Number U.S. Statute Citation U.S. Legislative Bill U.S. Presidential Administration
July 18, 1914 P.L. 63-143 38 Stat. 514 H.R. 5304 Woodrow Wilson
June 24, 1926 P.L. 69-422 44 Stat. 764 H.R. 9690 Calvin Coolidge
February 23, 1927 P.L. 69-629 44 Stat. 1105 S. 5622 Calvin Coolidge
May 11, 1928 P.L. 70-366 45 Stat. 498 H.R. 5465 Calvin Coolidge
February 16, 1929 Pub. Res. 70-87 45 Stat. 1222 H.J.Res. 153 Calvin Coolidge
March 2, 1929 P.L. 70-994 45 Stat. 1530 H.R. 16539 Calvin Coolidge

See also
1917 in aviationHelium Act of 1925
1930 Graf Zeppelin stampsHistory of aviation
Aerial bombing of citiesList of aerospace museums
Airship hangarList of airships of the United States Navy
AlcladMetal-clad airship
Aviation Service ActNational Defense Act of 1916
Balloon busterObserver Badge
Balloon Pilot BadgeR38-class airship
Dirigible Pilot BadgeTimeline of US Navy airship units (pre-WWII)
E-class blimpU.S. Army airships
Grace Marguerite Hay Drummond-HayZMC-2

Historic Airship Hangars in United States

Goodyear AirdockMarine Corps Air Station Tustin
Hangar One (Mountain View, California)Naval Air Station Tillamook
Henry Post Army AirfieldScott Field Historic District
Lakehurst Hangar No. 1Weeksville Dirigible Hangar

Historical Video Archives
  • "Another Columbus Sails West" [Graf Zeppelin Trans-Atlantic Flight 27742]. Internet Archive. William J. Ganz Company. October 1928.
  • Around the World by Zeppelin (1929) on YouTube
  • Graf Zeppelin Returns to New York After World Tour (1929) on YouTube
  • First All Metal Airship (1929) on YouTube
  • Flying Cruise Ships: What Happened To Giant Airships? on YouTube
  • Early Balloons: History Of Flight (1972) on YouTube
  • "Dirigible Hindenburg Visits NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey, Circa 1932". Internet Archive. United States Navy. 1932.
  • "L.T.A. History: Balloons" [U.S. Navy Training Film #MN2722A]. Internet Archive. U.S. Department of Defense. 1944.
  • "Montgolfier Brothers & Hot Air Balloon". Internet Archive. INTER/AKTION GmbH. 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.