History
In June 1917 Commander Raynal Cawthorne Bolling lead a Bureau of Aircraft Production mission to France, investigating if it was possible to build British and French aircraft in the United States. The Engineering Division was set up to evaluate his proposals. It combined a number of existing division of the Air Service, including the Engineering Department and the Airplane Experimental Department. The first project it undertook was installing an American Liberty L-12 engine on the British de Havilland D.H.9 aircraft, redesignating it USD-9 and USD-9A.
Other aircraft modified include the Bristol F.2B, redesignated XB-1.
After World War I ended, designed aircraft such as the Boeing GA-1 and the Engineering Division VCP racing plane.
In 1925, in order to promote private aircraft developments, the Engineering Division was restricted by General Mason Patrick and could no longer build experimental aircraft.
In 1926 the United States Army Air Service was replaced with the United States Army Air Corps, and the Engineering Division became the Material Division, based at Wright Field. It was given the task of evaluating all projects submitted. This involved recommending technical improvements to manufacturers, drawing up contracts to be awarded, and testing prototype aircraft.
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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