Bane, Thurman Harrison

From OnAirpower.org

Name:	Bane, Thurman Harrison
Years:	1884-1932
Rank:	Col.
Nationality:	American
Remarks:	Early U.S. military aviator, played a key role in laying the foundations for U.S. Air Force research and development

[edit] Biography

Bane attended the U.S. Military Academy from June, 1903 to June, 1907. After graduation he became a 2nd Lt. in the 14th Cavalry, stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco.^[1].

Bane's first exposure to military aircraft came while he was serving with the 6th Cavalry during the Mexican Punitive Expedition, and saw some of the accompanying army aircraft in flight. Bane transferred to the Signal Corps' Aviation Section after his return from the Expedition. He attended the Aviation School at North Island, San Diego starting in November, 1916, graduating in June, 1917. Later that year he became the First Assistant Secretary of the school, and then Secretary^[2].

During World War I, Bane was promoted to Lt. Col. and served on the Joint Army and Navy Technical Aircraft Board and as executive officer of the Signal Corps' Air Division. In May, 1918, he was put in charge of the Technical Section of the Department of Military Aeronautics, which was responsible for "procuring technical specifications for all aircraft and their equipment, appraising the Army of their value, and coordinating this with the Bureau of Aircraft Production". He was promoted to Col. in August, 1918^[2].

In January, 1919, Bane was put in charge of McCook Field where he organized the Air Service's Engineering Division and founded the Air Service School of Application. Bane introduced "modern industrial methods of research, design, and manufacturer"^[2].

In December, 1922, Bane retired from the military. He began consulting work and later organized the Aviation Corporation, which was the forerunner of Pan American Airways^[2].