Grider, John McGavock, 1892-1918

John McGavock Grider (May 28, 1893 – June 18, 1918) was a fighter pilot during World War I and one of the famous American war birds who trained in England. He is credited with downing four enemy aircraft This was at the beginning of American aviation when the United States had not yet organized their own air service and defense. When America entered the war in 1917, aviation only became officially established and used in war a year later in May 1918. The air service became the newest branch of the U.S. army and had few pilots that were trained to endure combat. An aviation bill was passed in July 1917 for $640 million however it would take time to build airfields and planes. At the end of the First World War, the commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe, General John J. Pershing named John McGavock Grider as one of his top one hundred heroes of the war. His diary is one of the first published accounts of a pilot in the beginning of American aviation. He was amongst several U.S. volunteers that served in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. In regrouping the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service it became the Royal Air Force on April 1, 1918. Grider Army Airfield is named in his honor. Grider Field, as it was known later, is now part of Pine Bluff Regional Airport.