The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum (hereafter "MNANG Museum") is home to historically significant aircraft and ancillary artifacts, historical documents, photographs, manuscripts, and books. Its cornerstone collection is the Brigadier General Ray S. Miller and Eva Hope Miller Collection.
A key figure in the development of Minnesota aviation, Ray Miller was born in Van Wert, Ohio on August 14, 1891. He trained at the Curtiss School in Newport News as a pilot, and served in World War I in the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, U.S. Army. He worked for the Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company in St. Paul and was also a flight instructor. In 1920 he and his partners, Brigadier General W.F. Rhinow and Lieutenant Colonel William Garis, made the week-long flight from St. Paul to Washington, D.C. in a Curtiss Oriole bi-plane, to lobby for their idea of an Air National Guard. The Minnesota 109th Aero Squadron (later the 109th Observation Squadron) received federal recognition in January 1921 and became the first federally recognized Air National Guard unit in the United States. Miller was the unit's first commander, and as Major, inaugurated the Air Guard's search and rescue and disaster relief missions until World War II, when he was called to active duty.
Ray S Miller was made a Master Mason in 1918 in Ohio's Lodge #218.
Ray Miller began flying in 1917, learning the skill at the Curtiss School at Newport News, Virginia, after World War I. He came to St. Paul and went to work for Bill Kidder at Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company as a general working pilot, flying charters and sight-seers, and giving instruction. In 1920, as a pilot and member of the Minnesota National Guard, he and others in the unit decided to apply to Washington for a charter to create an Air Guard section. Miller, Minnesota Adjutant General William F. Rhinow and Lt. Colonel William C. Garis, Assistant Adjutant General, flew to Washington, D. C. in a Curtiss Oriole rented from Bill Kidder where they were successful in receiving the charter. The new 109th Observation Squadron was formed and in years to come, earned a respectable reputation for its help throughout Minnesota in time of need. Miller served as head of the Minnesota Aeronautics Commission in the 1930s and was active in licensing Minnesota's aircraft and pilots. He commanded the Guard squadron until World War II, when he was called to active duty and sent to Wright Field. He was called again to active duty during the Korean War, and retired from service in 1951. He continued to provide inspiration for the Air Guard until his death.
Inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988.
A key figure in the development of Minnesota aviation, Ray Miller was born in Van Wert, Ohio on August 14, 1891. He trained at the Curtiss School in Newport News as a pilot, and served in World War I in the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, U.S. Army. He worked for the Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company in St. Paul and was also a flight instructor. In 1920 he and his partners, Brigadier General W.F. Rhinow and Lieutenant Colonel William Garis, made the week-long flight from St. Paul to Washington, D.C. in a Curtiss Oriole bi-plane, to lobby for their idea of an Air National Guard. The Minnesota 109th Aero Squadron (later the 109th Observation Squadron) received federal recognition in January 1921 and became the first federally recognized Air National Guard unit in the United States. Miller was the unit's first commander, and as Major, inaugurated the Air Guard's search and rescue and disaster relief missions until World War II, when he was called to active duty.
Ray S Miller was made a Master Mason in 1918 in Ohio's Lodge #218.
Ray Miller began flying in 1917, learning the skill at the Curtiss School at Newport News, Virginia, after World War I. He came to St. Paul and went to work for Bill Kidder at Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company as a general working pilot, flying charters and sight-seers, and giving instruction. In 1920, as a pilot and member of the Minnesota National Guard, he and others in the unit decided to apply to Washington for a charter to create an Air Guard section. Miller, Minnesota Adjutant General William F. Rhinow and Lt. Colonel William C. Garis, Assistant Adjutant General, flew to Washington, D. C. in a Curtiss Oriole rented from Bill Kidder where they were successful in receiving the charter. The new 109th Observation Squadron was formed and in years to come, earned a respectable reputation for its help throughout Minnesota in time of need. Miller served as head of the Minnesota Aeronautics Commission in the 1930s and was active in licensing Minnesota's aircraft and pilots. He commanded the Guard squadron until World War II, when he was called to active duty and sent to Wright Field. He was called again to active duty during the Korean War, and retired from service in 1951. He continued to provide inspiration for the Air Guard until his death.
Inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988.
The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum (hereafter "MNANG Museum") is home to historically significant aircraft and ancillary artifacts, historical documents, photographs, manuscripts, and books. Its cornerstone collection is the Brigadier General Ray S. Miller and Eva Hope Miller Collection.
A key figure in the development of Minnesota aviation, Ray Miller was born in Van Wert, Ohio on August 14, 1891. He trained at the Curtiss School in Newport News as a pilot, and served in World War I in the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, U.S. Army. He worked for the Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company in St. Paul and was also a flight instructor. In 1920 he and his partners, Brigadier General W.F. Rhinow and Lieutenant Colonel William Garis, made the week-long flight from St. Paul to Washington, D.C. in a Curtiss Oriole bi-plane, to lobby for their idea of an Air National Guard. The Minnesota 109th Aero Squadron (later the 109th Observation Squadron) received federal recognition in January 1921 and became the first federally recognized Air National Guard unit in the United States. Miller was the unit's first commander, and as Major, inaugurated the Air Guard's search and rescue and disaster relief missions until World War II, when he was called to active duty.
Ray S Miller was made a Master Mason in 1918 in Ohio's Lodge #218.
Ray Miller began flying in 1917, learning the skill at the Curtiss School at Newport News, Virginia, after World War I. He came to St. Paul and went to work for Bill Kidder at Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company as a general working pilot, flying charters and sight-seers, and giving instruction. In 1920, as a pilot and member of the Minnesota National Guard, he and others in the unit decided to apply to Washington for a charter to create an Air Guard section. Miller, Minnesota Adjutant General William F. Rhinow and Lt. Colonel William C. Garis, Assistant Adjutant General, flew to Washington, D. C. in a Curtiss Oriole rented from Bill Kidder where they were successful in receiving the charter. The new 109th Observation Squadron was formed and in years to come, earned a respectable reputation for its help throughout Minnesota in time of need. Miller served as head of the Minnesota Aeronautics Commission in the 1930s and was active in licensing Minnesota's aircraft and pilots. He commanded the Guard squadron until World War II, when he was called to active duty and sent to Wright Field. He was called again to active duty during the Korean War, and retired from service in 1951. He continued to provide inspiration for the Air Guard until his death.
Inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988.
A key figure in the development of Minnesota aviation, Ray Miller was born in Van Wert, Ohio on August 14, 1891. He trained at the Curtiss School in Newport News as a pilot, and served in World War I in the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, U.S. Army. He worked for the Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company in St. Paul and was also a flight instructor. In 1920 he and his partners, Brigadier General W.F. Rhinow and Lieutenant Colonel William Garis, made the week-long flight from St. Paul to Washington, D.C. in a Curtiss Oriole bi-plane, to lobby for their idea of an Air National Guard. The Minnesota 109th Aero Squadron (later the 109th Observation Squadron) received federal recognition in January 1921 and became the first federally recognized Air National Guard unit in the United States. Miller was the unit's first commander, and as Major, inaugurated the Air Guard's search and rescue and disaster relief missions until World War II, when he was called to active duty.
Ray S Miller was made a Master Mason in 1918 in Ohio's Lodge #218.
Ray Miller began flying in 1917, learning the skill at the Curtiss School at Newport News, Virginia, after World War I. He came to St. Paul and went to work for Bill Kidder at Curtiss-Northwest Airplane Company as a general working pilot, flying charters and sight-seers, and giving instruction. In 1920, as a pilot and member of the Minnesota National Guard, he and others in the unit decided to apply to Washington for a charter to create an Air Guard section. Miller, Minnesota Adjutant General William F. Rhinow and Lt. Colonel William C. Garis, Assistant Adjutant General, flew to Washington, D. C. in a Curtiss Oriole rented from Bill Kidder where they were successful in receiving the charter. The new 109th Observation Squadron was formed and in years to come, earned a respectable reputation for its help throughout Minnesota in time of need. Miller served as head of the Minnesota Aeronautics Commission in the 1930s and was active in licensing Minnesota's aircraft and pilots. He commanded the Guard squadron until World War II, when he was called to active duty and sent to Wright Field. He was called again to active duty during the Korean War, and retired from service in 1951. He continued to provide inspiration for the Air Guard until his death.
Inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988.
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