12 March 1914

The Curtiss Model J was a tractor aircraft designed by Englishman Benjamin D. Thomas (formerly with Sopwith) that became the basis for the Curtiss Jenny series. The first prototype was rolled out on 12 March 1914. It was delivered to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps on 28 July. At the time the entire United States military air fleet consisted of 23 aircraft.