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George C. Kenny for Mess Officer

Note: This item is currently in storage.

Caption: "Election day at the 91st Aero Squadron Airdrome at Gondreville, France, in July 1918. There was an election and demonstration in an endeavor to appoint an officer in charge of the mess for officers. George C. Kenny, 1st Lieutenant, was the candidate but because of a few technical errors in the rules and regulations drawn up especially for the occasion, the candidate was not legally elected."

While Kenny did not attain the honor of becoming the 91st Aero Squadron’s Mess Officer, he did achieve his first aerial victory on Sept. 15, 1918, and was awarded the Silver Star for his actions. On Oct. 9, he again showed great heroism as he flew in support of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive near Jametz, France. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, presented to him by Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell. Gen. Kenny would later serve as the commander of the Fifth Air Force during World War II and became the first commander of the Strategic Air Command following the war.

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