The Las Cruces Railroad Museum presents, "Brown Bag Lecture: The First Aero Squadron," presented by Garland Courts, at noon Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.
The presentation will take place virtually on Zoom. Log in to Zoom.us with webinar ID 81881325976, or email education@las-cruces.org for a link.
Enjoy lunch and learn about the history of the First Aero Squadron, the oldest U.S. military flying unit. When Mexican rebel leader Francisco “Pancho” Villa and his supporters raided Columbus, N.M. on March 14, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered a “Punitive Expedition,” commanded by Gen. John J. Pershing. to “pursue and disperse” Villa’s forces in Mexico.
Pershing ordered the First Aero Squadron to perform aerial reconnaissance and support ground troops — experiences that would be vital to shaping understandings about the role of military aircraft prior to World War I.
Garland Courts is the vice-president of the Doña Ana County Historical Society and the acting Las Cruces Museums’ Administrator.
The Las Cruces Railroad Museum, 351 N. Mesilla St., is accessible via RoadRUNNER Transit Routes 4 and 7, Stop 1. Visit the Museums System website at: MUSEUMS | Las Cruces, NM (las-cruces.org) or follow the Las Cruces Museums on Facebook and Instagram @LCMuseums.
For information contact Garland Courts, acting Museum Administrator, at 575/528-3444 or by email at education@las-cruces.org.