Hugh Trenchard had great things ahead of him, although no one would have guessed it when he was a lad. As a child, he neglected his studies. He failed the British Army entry exams twice. In 1883, he barely got into the army at age 20. Trenchard had almost no social graces, no financial independence, and didn't fit in with his regiment. However, he managed to earn their respect by being an excellent sportsman and polo player.
Trenchard was injured in the war against the Boers in Africa. A bullet punctured his lung and grazed his spine, leaving him partially paralyzed. At the advice of a doctor, he spent several months in Switzerland for his health and took up bobsleighing. A violent crash jolted his spine into alignment, and he was able to walk again. He resumed his service as soon as he could.
At age 39, Trenchard decided to take flying lessons. His commanding officer tried to discourage him, since Trenchard was too tall and nearly too old to be accepted by the Royal Flying Corps. Trenchard took the course anyway and earned his wings after spending 64 minutes in the air.
Trenchard wasn't a good pilot, but he realized the potential of air attacks. He knew the Royal Flying Corps needed better training and discipline if it was going to be a military asset. He set forth the curriculum and pioneered the techniques necessary for successful air attacks. He was even the first to come up with formation flying.
After a lackluster career and many failures, Trenchard had finally found his calling. He laid out the foundation for the Royal Air Force, trained it, disciplined it, and affected the outcome of two world wars. Against the odds, he played a pivotal role in history.
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