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Aeronautic Squadron, Ninth Division California Naval Militia
The California National Guard’s involvement in heavier-than-air aviation began in 1911, just two short years after the U.S. Army purchased its first aircraft from the Wright Brothers. That year, California established the nation’s first aeronautical detachment as part of its Coast Artillery Corps, becoming the first state to integrate the aeroplane into the National Guard.  To California’s credit, Eugene Burton Ely became the National Guard’s first aviator. This same unit would also be the first in the nation to experiment in wireless work and actively used this new technology with its aircraft. Soon, Guardsmen in other states began experimenting with aircraft.

The California Naval Militia soon followed suit. Los Angeles became home to the Aeronautic Squadron as part of the Ninth Division, California Naval Militia, under the leadership of Lieut. Frank Seaver. California was the second state to form an Naval Militia Aeronautic Squadron (November 1915), after Illinois in May 1915. Connecticut formed its aviation unit in February 1916 and New York formed its celebrated Yale Unit in September 1916.  None, except California and New York, had two or more planes and only California had machinists, tools and shops to keep its craft airworthy at all times.

Frank Seaver had joined the Naval Militia as a Seaman Second Class in 1913 and was shortly thereafter promoted to Ensign. By the time war had erupted in Europe in August 1914, he was a lieutenant senior grade detailed to the newly formed Ninth Division.  Putting his legal training and organizational experience to work, he obtained a permit in 1915 to set up the Aviation Section of the California Naval Militia - the second of such organizations in the country.  

Lieut. Seaver, a long time friend of the Simpson family, was an active promoter of citizen sailors and a prominent lawyer.  Seaver had induced Frank Simpson, Jr. to join the Naval Militia and he was enlisted as a seaman on February 14, 1915 and was commissioned an Ensign on June 28, 1915. 
Lieut. Frank Simpson, Jr., who recruited most of the unit, set up a course in aviation theory, staffed it with instructors at the Exposition Park Armory [now the Space Museum], established a ground school in Inglewood and saw to it that all hands, even the enlisted personnel, received practical instruction in flying.  In November 1915, Glenn L. Martin, pioneer aircraft manufacturer, generously donated a pair of aircraft to the State of California, and loaned the unit a Model TT which was identical to that used by the Army at North Island.  He further encouraged his plant employees to join the Naval Militia as pilots or as mechanics. Among the pilots were Edward Musick, Steve Calloway, Arthur C. Burns, H.V. Reynolds and Edward Oliver.  No other state militia boasted such a large number of qualified pilots.

The men met for instruction at the State Armory in Los Angeles' Exposition Park, and trained at the Gardena Aviation Field. Flying instruction was provided by Glenn Martin and members of his school and airplane factory staff. Within one year, the unit was using the field, facilities and equipment of the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Company in San Diego during the unit’s summer encampment.  Lieut. Frank Simpson, Jr., would ultimately hold the distinction of becoming the first native-Californian and the first member of the California Naval Militia to be designated a naval aviator on June 12, 1917, receiving the designation as Naval Aviator Number 53.

(c) Copyright 2007
All Rights Reserved
CW2 Mark J. Denger
California Center for Military History