Raynal Cawthorne Bolling was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas in September 1, 1877. He graduated from Harvard University in 1900 and Harvard Law School in 1902. Shortly after graduation, he joined U.S. Steel and rapidly rose to general solicitor. On June 24, 1907 he married Anne Phillips of Boston. They had five children, Anne Tucker (1908), Raynal C. (1910), Cecelia Raynal (1912, died in infancy in 1913), Diana (1914), and Patricia (1916).
The Bollings moved to Greenwich in 1909. Bolling became involved in civic affairs and was responsible for the organization of the Public Health Association in Greenwich and served as Chairman of the Board of Health. He developed an interest in flying and organized the first National Guard flying unit.
In 1917, convinced that the United States would (or should) enter the hostilities, he joined the U.S. Army. He became Assistant to the Chief of the Air Service Line of Communication and was assigned to attend to "all matters in connection with industrial relations between the Air Service, A.E.F., Aircraft Board in Washington and English, French and Italian air boards." Although he did not report directly to General Pershing, he was in frequent contact. From his office in Paris, he tried to build up the physical plant of the Air Service. He traveled extensively in France, England and Italy inspecting equipment and narrowed acquisition goals to two or three types of planes. He then tried to establish a production schedule. After much study, he recommended that components be manufactured in the United States and assembled in Europe. He was also involved in establishing and equipping a school (Issouden) for the training of pilots.
In addition to the frustrations he encountered in dealing with a lack of material, shipping facilities and numerous other problems, he became increasingly discouraged by the petty infighting "games" of the military. Bolling asked that he either be assigned to the front or returned to Washington, where he felt his hard-earned expertise would be of value. He was assigned to the British Royal Flying Corps in March 12, 1918. He was on an inspection tour of the front when he was killed on March 25, 1918. Details of his death were unknown until after the Armistice when his chauffeur (Paul Holder) was released from a prisoner of war camp.
