Although the United States had been the birthplace of powered flight, the Army Signal Corps paid little attention to it. Even as World War I progressed in Europe, America did little to build its air strength. In April 1917, the United States was woefully weak in the air. The United States possessed only one fully manned and equipped Aero squadron (1st Aero Squadron), and about 250 aircraft outfitted the Aviation Section of the Army's Signal Corps. In comparison, France began the war with over 1,500 aircraft.