Photo: SDASM Archives
Captain Alfred A. Cunningham, the first Marine Corps aviator, was born on March 8, 1882, in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1917, under the directive of Major General Commandant George Barnett, he embarked on a crucial mission to France to observe Allied air operations and training during World War I. This assignment proved pivotal, providing Cunningham with essential insights that played a key role in founding the First Marine Aviation Force. Cunningham kept a detailed diary during this thrilling tour of France, capturing not only the technical aspects of his observations but also the excitement he experienced in witnessing the dawn of modern air warfare.
The Diary Entry
Tuesday, December 18, 1917
Got up frozen stiff. The weather fairly clear. Persuaded a French pilot of a biplane fighting Spad to take me over the lines. We went up like an elevator and talk about speed! Wk were over the lines in no time and I was all eyes. The archies bursting near us worried me some and made it hard to look all the time for boches. I saw something to one side that looked like a fountain of red ink. Found it was the machine gun tracer bullets from the ground. After a few minutes we sighted a boche 2 seater just below us. We made for him. It was the finest excitement I ever had. I got my machine gun ready. Before we got to him he dived and headed for home. On 1 of our rolls I let loose a couple of strings of 6 at him but it was too far for good shooting. After following him a ways over the lines we turned to look for another. None were out so we came home. Finest trip I ever had. If the boche had not turned quite so soon, I think I might have got him. Watched pilots doing stunts in afternoon. At about 8 p.m. we were huddled around a small fire in the hut when we heard 3 boche machines fly over very low. Two of them did not locate our place and went on. We went outside and saw the other 1 flying around trying to locate the hangars so we made for the machine gun pit. He finally flew down the line and let go a couple of bombs, as he came over we opened on him but the gun jammed and no one could fix it in the dark. He made 3 trips and let go 2 bombs each trip. Then he left us. We found he had dropped them all in the woods and no machines were hurt. We went back and tried to sleep but every time a big gun would go off I thought it was another raid. I am writing this Wednesday night with my hands blue from cold. There is certainly no lack of excitement around here.
Further Reading
Marine Flyer in France: The Diary of Captain Alfred A. Cunningham, November 1917-January 1918, edited by Graham A. Cosmas, was first published in 1974 by the Department of the Navy U.S. Marine Corps. It can now be read online.
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