Dirigible

Like others in the early days of military aviation, the Signal Corps toyed with dirigibles (this one is at Fort Myer, in 1908). In 1907, Chief Signal Officer James Allen formally established an aeronautical division in the Corps that was to head up "all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines, and all kindred subjects." In December 1907, the Signal Corps took a truly historic step when it began soliciting bids for a heavier-than-air flying machine...