The Military Air-Scout (1911) is considered by some aviation film historians as one of the first aviation films recorded worldwide. William J. Humphrey directed the two-reeler in 1911, with the cooperation of the U.S. Army authorities who allowed Lt. Henry Arnold, a pioneer military pilot to carry out stunt flying for the film.
"Hap" Arnold, stunt pilot
Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the ranks of General of the Army and later, General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps (1938–1941), commanding general of the United States Army Air Forces, the only United States Air Force general to hold five-star rank, and the only officer to hold a five-star rank in two different U.S. military services. Arnold was also the founder of Project RAND, which evolved into one of the world's largest non-profit global policy think tanks, the RAND Corporation, and was one of the founders of Pan American World Airways.
A young Henry Arnold at the second-seat controls of a Wright Model B airplane 1911
Colonel Henry Arnold in the War Department in Washington, D.C., April 1918
Major Henry H. Arnold with the first Liberty V12 aero engine completed
Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, Chief of Air Service