Edwin H. Brainard

Edwin Halstead Brainard (September 6, 1882 – February 27, 1957) was a United States Marine Corps officer who was awarded the Navy Cross during World War I. He was also a Marine aviation pioneer during the 1920s and set many records.

Edwin Halstead Brainard
Nickname(s)"Chief"
BornSeptember 6, 1882
Branford, Connecticut
DiedFebruary 27, 1957(1957-02-27) (aged 74)
Pinellas County, Florida
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1909–1929
Rank Major
Battles/warsWorld War I
Banana Wars
AwardsNavy Cross
Silver Star (2)
Other workVice President of Curtiss Flying Service

Early life and World War I

Edwin H. Brainard was born on September 6, 1882 in Branford, Connecticut.[1] He graduated from the New York Nautical School and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in January 1909.[2]

During World War I, Major Brainard served as the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment in France. During the Champagne Offensive in October 1918, he unhesitatingly moved his battalion forward under heavy artillery fire and directed accurate counterfire at the enemy. Major Brainard was awarded the Navy Cross and a Silver Star for his actions.[3]

On November 3, Major Brainard constantly exposed himself to enemy artillery fire, increasing the morale of his men and the accuracy of his guns. For his leadership, he was awarded a second Silver Star.[3] Additionally, the French government awarded Brainard the Croix de Guerre.[2]

After the war, Major Brainard earned his wings at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in December of 1920. Throughout the 1920s, he became a well-known aviator and made several groundbreaking flights. Brainard made a transcontinental round-trip flight in a Curtiss Hawk, and set the record for the longest flight with a seaplane when he flew from Washington, D.C. to Haiti.[2]

In March 1925, Major Brainard was made the Officer in Charge, Aviation for all Marine aircraft, replacing Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C. Turner. During his tenure, he directed the expansion of the Marine Aviation Reserve and called for the recruitment of more pilots. In September 1926, he defined three tactical missions for Marine aircraft. “Observation” was the first mission and included aerial photography and artillery spotting. The second mission was “light bombardment,” which consisted of bombing and strafing the enemy. The third mission included air-to-air combat for control of the skies and was called “fighting aviation.”[4]

On January 17, 1927, Major Brainard flew from Washington, D.C. to Pensacola, Florida in 6 hours 45 minutes. A few days later, he made the return trip in just 5 hours 25 minutes. Brainard set a record time of 2 hours 5 minutes from Buffalo, New York to Washington, D.C., leading a formation of Curtiss Hawks. On September 18, 1927, he placed first in a seaplane race in New Haven, Connecticut.[2]

In December of 1927, Major Brainard obtained the Marine Corps’ first cargo plane, a Fokker Trimotor from Atlantic Aircraft, and made the first flight across the Caribbean. He and the crew were flying from Miami to Nicaragua, but were forced to land in Honduras when they ran low on fuel. They finished the trip the next day, arriving in Managua on December 4.[2][5]

Post-Marine Corps life

In May 1929, Major Brainard left the Marine Corps in order to take the position of Vice President at Curtiss Flying Service.[4]

In November 1931, Brainard was an honorary pallbearer at Colonel Thomas C. Turner's funeral in Arlington National Cemetery. Turner had assumed the position of Officer in Charge, Aviation after Brainard's exit from the Marines. Turner was killed when he was struck by an aircraft propellor in Haiti.[6]

Edwin H. Brainard died on February 27, 1957 in Pinellas County, Florida. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1]

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See also
Military offices
Preceded by
Thomas C. Turner		 Officer in Charge, Aviation
March 3, 1925 – May 9, 1929		 Succeeded by
Thomas C. Turner

References
  1. "MAJ Edwin Halstead Brainard". Find a Grave.
  2. "Edwin H. Brainard". Davis Monthan Aviation Field Register.
  3. "Edwin H. Brainard". Military Times.
  4. Edward C. Johnson. "Marine Corps Aviation: The Early Years 1912-1940 (Part 1)" (PDF). History and Museums Division Headquarters USMC.
  5. Edward C. Johnson. "Marine Corps Aviation: The Early Years 1912-1940 (Part 2)" (PDF). History and Museums Division Headquarters USMC.
  6. "Thomas Caldwell Turner". arlingtoncemetery.net.
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