James Ely Miller was born in March 1883, in Smithtown, NY. He attended Berkeley Preparatory School, then went on to Yale. After college, he worked as a banker, eventually rising to the position of vice president, at the Columbia Trust Company.
Prior to the United States entry into World War One, he volunteered for service in the New York National Guard. In 1915, he learned to fly at the U.S. Army training camp at Plattsburgh, NY. He was very good at flying, qualifying as a pilot and an instructor. Miller was responsible for helping organize the 1st Aero Company, of the New York Army National Guard.
In July 1916, the company was mustered into federal service, initially as part of the U.S. Signal Corps. James quickly rose in rank to captain. Upon arriving in France in 1917, he joined General John Pershing's staff. Pershing was overall commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France. Miller was appointed to the command of the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center, at Issoudon, France. Within sixty days from taking command, Miller had the base up and running, with barracks, hangars and other facilities.
Miller eventually obtained a transfer to a frontline combat unit, the 95th Aero Squadron, based at Villeneuve-les-Vertus, France, and arrived there on March 8, 1918. Though the unit had received their aircraft, the planes were not yet armed with machine guns, so could not engage the enemy. Anxious to get into the fight, Miller borrowed a gun-equipped airplane from a French squadron. Accompanied by Majors Harmon and Johnson of the nearby 94th Squadron, Miller flew into action. Harmon returned to base due to engine problems, while Miller and Johnson continued to the front. They were initially engaged by two German fighters, but managed to chase them away. Then they were engaged by a second set of German planes. Shortly after engaging them, Johnson's guns jammed, so he turned back, leaving Miller alone to contend with the enemy. Miller engaged, but then attempted to escape, pursued by the two Germans. That was the last time he was seen alive. Unfortunately, Miller was mortally wounded during the engagement, and crashed behind enemy lines near Corbeny, France. As a prisoner of war, he soon expired from his wounds. Miller is buried in Ainse, France. He was posthumously awarded the very first Distinguished Flying Cross ever presented, and also was eligible for the first Purple Heart. Both were awarded to his family in June 2017.
Miller Field was named in his honor. The plaque inside the Miller Field Visitor Center was presented by his mother, Mary Miller, and was installed in April 1925.
