# Edwin H. Brainard > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Edwin_H._Brainard > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Edwin_H._Brainard.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_H._Brainard > Source revision: 1351773917 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) United States Marine Corps officer (1882–1957) Edwin Halstead Brainard Nickname "Chief" Born September 6, 1882 Branford, Connecticut, US Died February 27, 1957(1957-02-27) (aged 74) Pinellas County, Florida, US Buried Arlington National Cemetery Allegiance United States of America Branch United States Marine Corps Service years 1909–1929 Rank Major Conflicts World War I Banana Wars Occupation of Haiti Occupation of Nicaragua Awards Navy Cross Silver Star (2) Other work Vice President of Curtiss Flying Service **Edwin Halstead Brainard** (September 6, 1882 – February 27, 1957) was a [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) officer who was awarded the [Navy Cross](/source/Navy_Cross) during [World War I](/source/World_War_I). He was also a Marine aviation pioneer during the 1920s and set many records. ## Early life and World War I Brainard was born on September 6, 1882, in [Branford, Connecticut](/source/Branford%2C_Connecticut). He was the son of Connecticut businessman and politician [J. Edwin Brainard](/source/J._Edwin_Brainard), who later served as a member of the General Assembly and as Lieutenant Governor. The younger Brainard was called Halstead in his youth. He graduated from the [New York Nautical School](/source/New_York_Nautical_School) and commissioned as a [second lieutenant](/source/Second_lieutenant) in the Marine Corps in January 1909.[1] During World War I, [Major](/source/Major_(United_States)) Brainard served as the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment in [France](/source/France). During the Champagne Offensive in October 1918, he unhesitatingly moved his battalion forward under heavy artillery fire and directed accurate counterfire at the enemy. Major Brainard was awarded the Navy Cross and a [Silver Star](/source/Silver_Star) for his actions.[2] On November 3, Major Brainard constantly exposed himself to enemy artillery fire, increasing the morale of his men and the accuracy of his guns. For his leadership, he was awarded a second Silver Star.[2] Additionally, the French government awarded Brainard the [Croix de Guerre](/source/Croix_de_Guerre).[1] ## Naval aviation career After the war, Major Brainard earned his wings at [Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Pensacola), in December 1920. Throughout the 1920s, he became a well-known aviator and made several groundbreaking flights. Brainard made a transcontinental round-trip flight in a Curtiss Hawk, and set the record for the longest flight with a seaplane when he flew from [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.) to [Haiti](/source/Haiti).[1] In March 1925, Major Brainard was made the [Officer in Charge, Aviation](/source/Deputy_Commandant_for_Aviation) for all Marine aircraft, replacing [Lieutenant Colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_States)) [Thomas C. Turner](/source/Thomas_C._Turner). During his tenure, he directed the expansion of the Marine Aviation Reserve and called for the recruitment of more pilots. In September 1926, he defined three tactical missions for Marine aircraft. “Observation” was the first mission and included aerial photography and artillery spotting. The second mission was “light bombardment,” which consisted of bombing and strafing the enemy. The third mission included air-to-air combat for control of the skies and was called “fighting aviation.”[3] On January 17, 1927, Major Brainard flew from Washington, D.C., to [Pensacola, Florida](/source/Pensacola%2C_Florida), in 6 hours 45 minutes. A few days later, he made the return trip in just 5 hours 25 minutes. Brainard set a record time of 2 hours 5 minutes from [Buffalo, New York](/source/Buffalo%2C_New_York), to Washington, D.C., leading a formation of Curtiss Hawks. On September 18, 1927, he placed first in a seaplane race in [New Haven, Connecticut](/source/New_Haven%2C_Connecticut).[1] In December 1927, Major Brainard obtained the Marine Corps’ first cargo plane, a [Fokker Trimotor](/source/Fokker_F.VII) from [Atlantic Aircraft](/source/Atlantic_Aircraft), and made the first flight across the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean). He and the crew were flying from [Miami](/source/Miami) to [Nicaragua](/source/Nicaragua), but were forced to land in [Honduras](/source/Honduras) when they ran low on fuel. They finished the trip the next day, arriving in [Managua](/source/Managua) on December 4.[1][4] ## Post-Marine Corps life In May 1929, Major Brainard left the Marine Corps in order to take the position of Vice President at [Curtiss Flying Service](/source/Curtiss_Flying_Service).[3] In November 1931, Brainard was an honorary [pallbearer](/source/Pallbearer) at Colonel [Thomas C. Turner](/source/Thomas_C._Turner)'s funeral in [Arlington National Cemetery](/source/Arlington_National_Cemetery). Turner had assumed the position of Officer in Charge, Aviation after Brainard's exit from the Marines. Turner was killed when he was struck by an aircraft propeller in Haiti. In November 1951, his nephew George Spencer Brainard, who had also become a Naval Aviator, was killed in a crash landing aboard the carrier [USS *Antietam*](/source/USS_Antietam_(CV-36)) during the [Korean War](/source/Korean_War).[5] Grave of Brainard at Arlington National Cemetery Edwin H. Brainard died on February 27, 1957, in [Pinellas County, Florida](/source/Pinellas_County%2C_Florida). He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[6] ## See also - [Alfred A. Cunningham](/source/Alfred_A._Cunningham) – early USMC aviator ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_1-4) ["Edwin H. Brainard"](https://dmairfield.com/people/brainard_eh/index.html). *Davis Monthan Aviation Field Register*. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_2-1) ["Edwin H. Brainard"](https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/8584). *Military Times*. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_3-1) Edward C. Johnson. ["Marine Corps Aviation: The Early Years 1912–1940 (Part 1)"](https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Marine%20Corps%20Aviation%20The%20Early%20Years%201912-1940%20PCN%2019000316800_1.pdf) (PDF). *History and Museums Division Headquarters USMC*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:02_4-0)** Edward C. Johnson. ["Marine Corps Aviation: The Early Years 1912–1940 (Part 2)"](https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/Marine%20Corps%20Aviation%20The%20Early%20Years%201912-1940%20PCN%2019000316800_2.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-163525-807) (PDF). *History and Museums Division Headquarters USMC*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Action Report for the period 15 October through 16 November 1951"](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/action-reports/Korean%20War%20-%20Carrier%20Combat/PDF%27s/cv36aa-51.pdf) (PDF). Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Antietam (CV-36). November 17, 1951. Retrieved 2022-07-06. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Burial Detail: Brainard, Edwin H](https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CghicmFpbmFyZBIFZWR3aW4-/) – ANC Explorer ## External links - Media related to [Edwin H. Brainard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Edwin_H._Brainard) at Wikimedia Commons Military offices Preceded by Thomas C. Turner Officer in Charge, Aviation March 3, 1925 – May 9, 1929 Succeeded by Thomas C. Turner --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Edwin H. Brainard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_H._Brainard) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_H._Brainard?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.