Colonel Raynal Cawthorne BollingSeptember 1, 1877-March 26, 1918 was the first high-ranking U.S. officer to be killed in combat in World War I. He laid the foundation for the U. S. Military Aviation Service. Ambushed by German troops near the front lines on the Amiens-Saint-Quentin road (the modern N29) during the second Somme offensive. The spot is a few kilometers east of the commune of Estrées-Deniécourt, Picardy,France. He was the namesake of Bolling Air Force Base. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, from 1909 on he was a native of Greenwich, Connecticut at his estate Greyledge on Doubling Rd. Near the town commons a life-size bronze statue cast by the Gorham Foundry of Rhode Island sculpted by Edward Clark Potter serves as his memorial. The Indianalimestone background of the memorial shows aircraft in combat in low relief. The inscription on the front of the memorial reads simply "Bolling", on the reverse it reads:
Raynal C. Bolling Born September 1, 1877 Foresaw his Nation's call to Arms And left a brilliant career To prepare himself for service In the World War Colonel of Aviation American Expeditionary Forces He laid the foundation For Our Aerial Warfare in France He fell in action near Amiens March 26, 1918 In the Vanguard Of the Thousands of Americans Who gave all for their Country
Attended the Penn Charter School in Philadelphia graduating in 1896. Harvard class of 1900. Harvard Law 1902 led to a job at Guthrie, Cravath, and Henderson. A little after a year there he began his career in the legal department of the United States Steel Corporation. By 1907 he was Assistant General Solicitor and married Anna Tucker Phillips. He also joined the New York National Guard. He and his wife had four daughters and a son. In 1913 he was named General Solicitor of US Steel. By 1917 he was a colonel with the United States Army Signal Corps and Assistant Chief of the Air Service. Because of his legal experience he was chosen to draft a bill for Congress to authorize air service production. That year he headed the Bolling Mission to Europe representing the Secretary of War and the Air Service Production Board to report on aircraft production. Killed in action in 1918, he was posthumously awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor and the Distinguished Service Medal. Lord Northcliffe said "Bolling is our best."
"Let's look inside and remember that it's our ideals, our endeavors, our affections and love that are the realities in Life." - Raynal Bolling
Bolling’s men and women proudly accept their responsibility as a showcase for the Air Force because of its proximity to the Pentagon, Capitol Hill and the White House.
Bolling’s early years chronicled the growth of the entire U.S. Air Force and served as a proving ground for the new Air Service as it spread its wings.
Bolling Field also served as a research and testing ground for new aviation equipment and it’s first mission provided aerial defense of the capital and accommodated pilot proficiency.
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