Mason Patrick
Encyclopedia
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. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant shortly after graduation in July 1889.
From 1892 to 1895 he taught engineering at West Point. From 1897 to 1901 he was involved in Mississippi River
improvements, and after two years in the office of the Chief of Engineers he returned to the West Point faculty in 1903. He was promoted to major in 1904. From 1907 to 1909 he was Chief Engineer for the Army of Cuban Pacification and then worked on river and harbor projects in Virginia from (1909–1912) and Michigan (1912–1916). (From 1910-1912, he was also a member of a board directing the raising of the USS Maine
in Havana
Harbor.) During this period he was promoted to lieutenant colonel (June 1910) and colonel (March 1916) and found himself in command of the 1st US Army Engineers serving on the U.S.-Mexico border in that same year.
. In September he was named Chief Engineer of Lines of Communication and Director of Construction and Forestry of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and was promoted to brigadier general (August 1917).
In May 1918 he was appointed by General John J. Pershing
to command the combined Air Service
of the AEF (May 1918) and subsequently promoted to major (two star) general the following month (June 1918). He remained with the Air Service until June 1919, returning then to the U.S. and to various engineering duties, including Assistant Chief of Engineers in 1920.
, Ohio
, and a large training facility at San Antonio, Texas
. It was also here that he learned how to fly for the very first time in his life, receiving the rating
of Junior Airplane Pilot. In 1925, he sat on the court martial of his former assistant, Colonel William Mitchell. As a result of urging by Mitchell and Patrick, among others, the Air Service was reorganized as the Air Corps in July 1926, receiving an additional degree of autonomy under an Assistant Secretary of War.
He was reappointed Chief of the Air Service in October 1925 and retired from the Army in December 1927. The following year he published "The U.S. In the Air". From 1929 to 1933 he was Public Utilities Commissioner for the District of Columbia.
He died in Washington, D.C.
on January 29, 1942 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
on January 31, 1942.
transport ship was named in his honor. Patrick Air Force Base
in Florida
was named for him in 1950.
Patrick was born in Lewisburg
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and graduated from West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1886. For three years he was at the Engineer School of Application, Willets Point, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, graduating in 1889. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant shortly after graduation in July 1889.
From 1892 to 1895 he taught engineering at West Point. From 1897 to 1901 he was involved in Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
improvements, and after two years in the office of the Chief of Engineers he returned to the West Point faculty in 1903. He was promoted to major in 1904. From 1907 to 1909 he was Chief Engineer for the Army of Cuban Pacification and then worked on river and harbor projects in Virginia from (1909–1912) and Michigan (1912–1916). (From 1910-1912, he was also a member of a board directing the raising of the USS Maine
USS Maine (ACR-1)
USS Maine was the United States Navy's second commissioned pre-dreadnought battleship, although she was originally classified as an armored cruiser. She is best known for her catastrophic loss in Havana harbor. Maine had been sent to Havana, Cuba to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt...
in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
Harbor.) During this period he was promoted to lieutenant colonel (June 1910) and colonel (March 1916) and found himself in command of the 1st US Army Engineers serving on the U.S.-Mexico border in that same year.
World War I
In 1917 he was sent to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In September he was named Chief Engineer of Lines of Communication and Director of Construction and Forestry of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and was promoted to brigadier general (August 1917).
In May 1918 he was appointed by General John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
to command the combined 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...
of the AEF (May 1918) and subsequently promoted to major (two star) general the following month (June 1918). He remained with the Air Service until June 1919, returning then to the U.S. and to various engineering duties, including Assistant Chief of Engineers in 1920.
Air Service
In October 1921, he was appointed Chief of the Air Service. Under his direction the Air Service established experimental facilities at Wright FieldWright 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....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and a large training facility at San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. It was also here that he learned how to fly for the very first time in his life, receiving the rating
U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Ratings
U.S. Air Force aeronautical ratings are military aviation skill standards established and awarded by the United States Air Force for commissioned officers participating in "regular and frequent flight", The standard by which flight status has been defined in law, executive orders, and regulations...
of Junior Airplane Pilot. In 1925, he sat on the court martial of his former assistant, Colonel William Mitchell. As a result of urging by Mitchell and Patrick, among others, the Air Service was reorganized as the Air Corps in July 1926, receiving an additional degree of autonomy under an Assistant Secretary of War.
He was reappointed Chief of the Air Service in October 1925 and retired from the Army in December 1927. The following year he published "The U.S. In the Air". From 1929 to 1933 he was Public Utilities Commissioner for the District of Columbia.
He died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on January 29, 1942 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
on January 31, 1942.
Namesake and Honors
In 1944, U.S. NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
transport ship was named in his honor. Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick. An Air Force Space Command base, it is home to the 45th Space Wing...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
was named for him in 1950.