"Blackjack's New Scouts" by James Dietz On March 9, 1416, Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa and 500) of his Villistas attacked the border town of Columbus New Mexico. The United States responded by immediately dispatching U.S Army forces under the command of Gen. John J. ''Blackjack" Pershing to avenge the border penetration and capture the bandit Villa. Pershing deployed eight Curtiss JN-2s of the First Aero Squadron for use as scouts in the mountainous Mexican territory top which Villa and his men had fled. The Jennys were ill suited for their mission and very soon the combination of fragile aircraft in harsh operating conditions began to take its toll. In all, the aircraft logged only some 400 hours and were never able to perform the task that Pershing had hoped for. L/E of 750 3 l.75" x 22 5/8" |
 
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