Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject History - America, grade: A, University at Albany, State University of New York, language: English, abstract: This paper is focused on Thaddeus Lowe, the father of the United States Air Force, and his passion for aeronautics. Driven by curiosity he saw an opportunity to offer his service in the Civil War and he pursued it vigorously. Despite constant doubt from many of the Union Generals and a few set backs, he was able to prove himself and his balloons as a critical tool in battle.