Engineering Division
Encyclopedia
The Engineering Division was a division of the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
in the United States Department of War
. It was formed on 31 August 1918, under the direction of Lt Col Jesse G. Vincent, to study and design American versions of foreign aircraft. It was later renamed Engineering Division, Air Service and then in 1926 Material Division Air Corps. It was based at McCook Field
, and in October 1927 moved to Wright Field
.
The Engineering Division would eventually become the Aeronautical Systems Center
.
engine on the British de Havilland D.H.9
aircraft, redesignating it USD-9 and USD-9A.
Other aircraft modified include the Bristol F.2B, redesignated XB-1.
After World War I ended, designed aircraft such as the Boeing GA-1
and the Engineering Division VCP racing plane.
In 1925, in order to promote private aircraft developments, the Engineering Division was restricted by General Mason Patrick
and could no longer build experimental aircraft.
In 1926 the United States Army Air Service
was replaced with the United States Army Air Corps
, and the Engineering Division became the Material Division, based at Wright Field
. It was given the task of evaluating all projects submitted. This involved recommending technical improvements to manufacturers, drawing up contracts to be awarded, and testing prototype aircraft.
Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
The Aviation Section, Signal Corps, was the military aviation service of the United States Army from 1914 to 1918, and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force. It replaced and absorbed the Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps, and was succeeded briefly by the Division of Military...
in the United States Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
. It was formed on 31 August 1918, under the direction of Lt Col Jesse G. Vincent, to study and design American versions of foreign aircraft. It was later renamed Engineering Division, Air Service and then in 1926 Material Division Air Corps. It was based at McCook Field
McCook Field
McCook Field was an airfield and aviation experimentation station operated by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and its successor the United States Army Air Service from 1917-1927...
, and in October 1927 moved to Wright Field
Wright Field
Wright Field was an airfield of the United States Army Air Corps and Air Forces near Riverside, Ohio. From 1927 to 1947 it was the research and development center for the Air Corps, and during World War II a flight test center....
.
The Engineering Division would eventually become the Aeronautical Systems Center
Aeronautical Systems Center
The Aeronautical Systems Center is an Air Force product center that designs, develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U.S. Air Force, other U.S. military, allied and coalition-partner warfighters, in support of Air Force leadership priorities...
.
History
In June 1917 Commander Raynal Cawthorne Bolling lead a Bureau of Aircraft Production mission to France, investigating if it was possible to build British and French aircraft in the United States. The Engineering Division was set up to evaluate his proposals. It combined a number of existing division of the Air Service, including the Engineering Department and the Airplane Experimental Department. The first project it undertook was installing an American Liberty L-12Liberty L-12
The Liberty L-12 was a 27 litre water-cooled 45° V-12 aircraft engine of 400 horsepower designed both for a high power-to-weight ratio and for ease of mass production.-History:...
engine on the British de Havilland D.H.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
aircraft, redesignating it USD-9 and USD-9A.
Other aircraft modified include the Bristol F.2B, redesignated XB-1.
After World War I ended, designed aircraft such as the Boeing GA-1
Boeing GA-1
|-References:*Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes. Garden City, NY: Hanover House, 1968. ISBN 0385041349*Eden, Paul, & Moeng, Soph, editors. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002...
and the Engineering Division VCP racing plane.
In 1925, in order to promote private aircraft developments, the Engineering Division was restricted by General Mason Patrick
Mason Patrick
Mason Mathews Patrick was a U.S. Army general and air power advocate.Patrick was born in Lewisburg, West Virginia and graduated from West Point in 1886. For three years he was at the Engineer School of Application, Willets Point, New York, graduating in 1889...
and could no longer build experimental aircraft.
In 1926 the United States Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
was replaced with the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, and the Engineering Division became the Material Division, based at Wright Field
Wright Field
Wright Field was an airfield of the United States Army Air Corps and Air Forces near Riverside, Ohio. From 1927 to 1947 it was the research and development center for the Air Corps, and during World War II a flight test center....
. It was given the task of evaluating all projects submitted. This involved recommending technical improvements to manufacturers, drawing up contracts to be awarded, and testing prototype aircraft.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Division USD-9 | 1918 | ||
| Engineering Division USB-1 | |||
| Engineering Division USB-2 | |||
| Engineering Division VCP-1 Verville VCP Fighter |-References:*Angelucci, Enzo and Peter M. Bowers. The American Fighter. Sparkford, UK:Haynes Publishing Group, 1987. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.*Boyne, Walter J. "The Treasures of McCook Field: America's First Aero Engineering and Testing Centre, Part 1". The Best of Wings Magazine. Washington... |
2 (they were redesignated VCP-1 and R-1 Verville Racer Aircraft -R-1 Racer:The Verville-Packard R-1 Racer was a military racing aircraft that was based on Alfred Verville's previous VCP-1 design. The R-1 is sometimes known also as the VCP-R or the Verville-Packard 600. The R-1 was the first racing aircraft built for the United States Army Air Corps... ) |
Pursuit aircraft (US Army fighter) | |
| Engineering Division VCP-2 Verville VCP Fighter |-References:*Angelucci, Enzo and Peter M. Bowers. The American Fighter. Sparkford, UK:Haynes Publishing Group, 1987. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.*Boyne, Walter J. "The Treasures of McCook Field: America's First Aero Engineering and Testing Centre, Part 1". The Best of Wings Magazine. Washington... |
2 (they were redesignated PW-1 and PW-1A) | Pursuit aircraft (US Army fighter) | |
| Engineering Division XB-1A | |||
| Engineering Division LUSAC-11 | |||
| Engineering Division FVL-8 | |||
| Engineering Division PW-1 | see VCP-2 above | ||
| Engineering Division TP-1 Engineering Division TP-1 |-See also:-Bibliography:... |
|||
| Engineering Division XCO-5 |
External links
- Acquisition Management in the United States Air Force and its Predecessors. Accessed 22 September 2008.
- Lineage and Commanders of Aeronautical Systems Center. Accessed 22 September 2008.