On March 19, 1916, the United States launched its first aerial mission against another country when the First Aero Squadron deployed aircraft to carry out an airstrike in Mexico. This operation was unprecedented in American military history as it involved the use of aircraft to attack, a tactic not seen prior to this event. The First Aero Squadron was formed in 1914, following the onset of World War I, and this marks the first instance where the U.S. engaged in aerial combat operations.

The airstrike involved eight Curtiss 'Jenny' aircraft that took off from Columbus, New Mexico, as part of a larger military campaign against the Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. Villa had led a cross-border raid into the U.S., attacking Columbus and killing 17 Americans on March 9, 1916, in opposition to American support for Mexican President Venustiano Carranza. The U.S. response included sending 7,000 American soldiers into Mexico to arrest Villa, which underscored the tense U.S.-Mexico relations during this period.

This event not only highlights the initiation of American aerial warfare but also set the stage for future military engagements involving airpower. The presence of U.S. forces in Mexico and the use of air support reflected the escalating conflicts and the U.S.'s willingness to intervene militarily in regional affairs, marking an important chapter in the history of U.S.-Mexico relations and military strategy.