Raymond S. Miller

Raymond Simeon Miller (December 14, 1891 – September 27, 1961) was a United States military brigadier general and military aviation pioneer. Known as the "Father of the Air National Guard" for his historical flight in 1920 that resulted in the formation of the first federally recognized National Guard aviation unit after the Militia Bureau had authorized states to organize such units earlier that year.

Early life and education Ray Miller was born on December 14, 1891, to John and Anna Miller, on a farm in Pleasant Township, just 3.5 miles west of Van Wert, Ohio on Lincoln Highway (Highway 12). While growing up, Ray Miller attended a one-room brick schoolhouse about .75 miles south of his family farm. He did not attend high school, which was attributed in a biography to his bashful personality. Although, while bashful, he did excel in sports like baseball and sport shooting. As a teenager, he bought an Indian Motorcycle and was known for winning races around the state and nearby Indiana. The local newspaper once referred to him as a motorcycle riding daredevil. Additionally, locals knew him from his time as a clerk in Scholler's Jewelry Store.

Even though he had not attended high school, in 1917 he left to attend college in Fremont Nebraska at Luther College, today's Midland University. The US's entrance into the war spurred many young men to enlist in the Armed Forces to serve, and Miller was no exception.

After one year in university, Miller enrolled in pilot training at the Stearman Flying School in San Antonio where he obtained his pilot's license. Following that he joined the Army's Signal Corp and was sent to the Aviation Cader Training Program in his home state of Ohio. Following his graduation as an aviation cadet, he served with the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps.

Military career Miller was initially commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps, Army Reserves, on March 10, 1919. Once his advanced aviation training was completed, World War I was nearing its end and Miller was never sent to Europe to fight. Millers graduation class from the United States Army School of Military Aeronautics at Ohio State University. Squadron 53L Dated 8/21/1918 Ray Miller accepted a military discharge. He then became a part of the Army Reserves and pursued a civilian career in aviation, finding employment with Curtiss Northwest Airport in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the chief pilot for the Curtiss Field's new flying school.

Prior to this, the Minnesota State Adjutant General, Walter Rhinow, had created a state-sponsored Minnesota Air National Guard and was attempting to make Minnesota the first state with a federally recognized aviation military unit. Unfortunately, the US Army had prohibited aviation squadrons being commissioned until the National Defense Act of 1920.

On July 12, 1920, shortly after the Milita Bureau had authorized the organization of aero squadrons in state National Guard units, General Rhinow organized the 109th Observation Squadron.

Historic flight to Washington D.C. When the group's telegrams to the Milita Bureau in Washington D.C. were not responded to, they planned at trip to D.C.

On September 26, 1920, then Captain Miller, along with Major William Garis and General Rhinow, embarked on a 1,600 mile journey to Washington D.C. that took seven days. Their journey included overnight stays in Madison, Wisconsin; Van Wert, Ohio; Buffalo, New York' Poughkeepsie, New York; and Garden City, New York. Their stop in Van Wert was at Miller's childhood home. He landed their aircraft in a field across the road from the Miller family farm, located about four miles west of Van Wert proper. When the group stopped in Poughkeepsie, New York they were delayed there an additional night due to weather. { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "LineString", "coordinates": [ [ -93.175049, 45.001134 ], [ -91.252441, 43.804248 ], [ -89.384766, 43.082337 ], [ -87.626953, 41.829876 ], [ -84.602966, 40.871174 ], [ -81.661377, 41.481652 ], [ -78.826904, 42.866524 ], [ -74.207153, 42.932129 ], [ -73.751221, 42.651487 ], [ -73.894043, 41.280175 ], [ -73.608398, 40.677815 ], [ -77.058105, 38.827071 ] ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Van Wert", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -84.602966, 40.871174 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "LeCrosse", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -91.252441, 43.804248 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Madison", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -89.384766, 43.082337 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Chicago", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -87.626953, 41.829876 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Cleveland", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -81.661377, 41.481652 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Buffalo", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -78.826904, 42.866524 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Amsterdam", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -74.207153, 42.932129 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Albany", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -73.751221, 42.651487 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Garden City", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -73.608398, 40.677815 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Poughkeepie", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-symbol": "marker" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -73.894043, 41.280175 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "DC", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "large", "marker-symbol": "star" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -77.058105, 38.827071 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "stpaul", "marker-color": "625252", "marker-size": "large", "marker-symbol": "airfield" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -93.175049, 45.001134 ] } } ] }

It was not until January 17, 1921, the 109th Observation Squadron became the first federally recognized Air National Guard squadron. Miller was assigned as Squadron Commander of the 109th Observation Squadron and promoted to the rank of major.

World War II On February 10, 1941, Miller relinquished command of the 109th Observation Squadron for assignments due to the rapid organization and expansion of the Air Forces with the onset of World War II. While Miller was on active-duty status in the Air Force, he was first assigned as the Squadron and Group Commanding Officer at Easler Field, Alabama, from February 26 to April 16, 1941.

He died on May 31, 1961. The Governor of Minnesota ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until sunset three days later.

Dates of military rank

Honors and awards

US Air Force Command Pilot BadgeBronze StarWorld War I Victory MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean African Middle Eastern Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Reserves MedalMinnesota Distinguished Service MedalMinnesota Long Service Medal

In addition to these medals, Miller was awarded the Minnesota Medal of Merit. This was a ribbon worn around the neck and was awarded only 57 times between the years 1927 and 1954, when it was in existence. The ribbon was red with a wide yellow stripe down the middle with the medal hanging on it.

Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Miller was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988.

Namesakes Many facilities and streets are named for Miller, such as Miller Drive at Fort Snelling in St Paul, Minnesota.

The airfield at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minnesota, is named the Ray S. Miller Army Airfield.