The Billy Mitchell Affair

by Burke Davis

Brigadier General William Mitchell's court-martial was the longest and most controversial in our history. This biography reveals for the first time, from the full transcript, what was actually said and done.

In addition, Mitchell’s lengthy 201 File-his personal military records-has until now been unavailable to any biographer. This file contains frank personal evaluations of Mitchell by his superiors (including a psychiatric examination), his own detailed reports and prophecies, as well as official reaction to them.

From such previously classified documents and reports, and numerous interviews and unpublished letters, Burke Davis has finally portrayed in the round one of the most fascinating of American heroes.

The Billy Mitchell Affair concentrates on the years between 1919, when Mitchell returned from World War I to lead the crusade he felt was vital to America’s security, and 1925, when the battle was publicly joined in his court-martial.

It recounts with authority and fresh detail Mitchell’s fight for a separate air force, and the colorful, controversial figures he encountered-Franklin Roosevelt, General Mason Patrick (who had several wigs, one mussed up for flying), Admiral Moffett, Hap Arnold, Jimmy Doolittle, Alexander de Seversky, Generals MacArthur and Pershing; testimony from closed hearings; the complete story of the dramatic bombing of old battleships in 1921 and 1923; the first accurate picture of Mitchell's behind-the-scenes conflicts with his superiors and his running fight with the Navy, which remains an open wound to this day.

Here, too, is the first full account of Mitchell’s remarkable secret reports on European and Japanese aviation-in 1923 he predicted and outlined in detail Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and Clark Field-and how these reports were first ignored and then belittled. Finally, of course, Mitchell’s court-martial is narrated in full, with the most famous military figures of the time testifying on both sides.

This extraordinary biography not only reveals at last the true story behind General Mitchell’s dramatic fight for air power, but also brings the man himself to life for the £irst time.

373 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Occasionally history records the extraordinary prescience ("b : human anticipation of the course of events : foresight." Merriam-Webster) of a character who changed the course of events or, at least, rattled some significant cages. Even among those rare people, Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, U.S. Army Air Services, was such a pioneer. A standout. A man 20-25 years ahead of his time. "I can recall how quiet and modest Billy Mitchell seemed to me. There was something boyish about him. He had no feeling of his own importance, but he was burning with zeal." ~ Thos. B. Costain, Saturday Evening Post, 1924.

This volume, written from diligent research of newly-disclosed materials at time of publication, and in readable style, reveals details of Mitchell's professional & personal life between 1919, when he returned a hero from World War I, and 1925, when he was subjected to the longest and most controversial military court-martial in U.S. history because of his crusade to improve, to modernize, our fledgling air corps in the wake of world political and military developments. He was a prophet who was largely suppressed by his fellow professionals because he dared to expose their complacency and chicanery.

In 1957, 21 years after his death and 32 after his court-martial, Secretary of the Air Force James H. Douglas wrote of him: "The history of recent years has shown that Colonel Mitchell's (he was demoted as a result of the court-martial) vision concerning the future of air power was amazingly accurate. He saw clearly the shape of things to come in the field of military aviation, and he forecast with precision the role of air power as it developed in World War II, and as we see it today. Our nation is deeply in his debt..... Colonel Mitchell's views have been vindicated...."

Why do simpler minds refuse to listen? Hear Albert Einstein: "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds..."

A must read for students of history who know how to apply it to the present ... and the future.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Billy Mitchell's life story had been told by other biographers and his legend passed on this
biography of Mitchell by Burke Davis had access to both Mitchell's 201 personnel file from the Army
and the transcript of the court martial. It therefore is as authoritative as it gets.

Mitchell was from a prominent Wisconsin family who was in Nice, France at the time of his arrival.
He was raised in Milwaukee and at the age of 19 enlisted as a private, but quickly got himself a commission and was assigned to the Signal Corps.

In 1908 Mitchell got to see Orville Wright do a demonstration flight in Wisconsin and became a convert to air power. He was one of the few assigned to the new aviation service. In World War I
Mitchell was an air ace, but he saw possibilities with air power beyond just scouting missions and
dogfights. One of those who convinced him on that subject was Sir Hugh Trenchard who was the
first head of the Royal Aviation Force in Great Britain.

After the first World War nearly every country with the means and the trained flyers founded a
separate Air Force except the USA. Mitchell did whatever he could in the way of exhibitions and
tests to prove the need for air power. That included sinking disregarded and captured naval vessels
from the late war. None of it worked.

In fact Mitchell became such a fanatic on the subject friends and enemies started questioning his sanity. His marriage came to an end.

His career climaxed with a court martial. During the sinking of a dirigible Mitchell accused the
army and navy of almost treasonable activities in not providing for the safety of pilots. The court
martial was ordered and Mitchell got to parade an impressive array of witnesses testifying for the
USA to develop a separate Air Force. This was a major news story for the balance of 1925.

It was a foregone conclusion that Mitchell would be found guilty. He was and he left the service.

Mitchell continued to advocate for air power until he died in 1936. One of the things he predicted
with deadly accuracy was Japan's attack on America. In 1947 the USA finally got a separate Air
Force.

There was a time when people made great sacrifices for what they believed in. Such a one was
Billy Mitchell and this book is a great read and most authoritative.

[Rea K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that it took me about an entire year to finish it, this book was interesting. It was frustrating as someone who is living in the 21st century almost a full century since Billy Mitchell was court-martialed, considering how the rest of the 20th century went (the man predicted the attack on Pearl Harbor, for Pete's sake), but at the same time, it was eye-opening to aviation history. There were some recognized names, Fiorello La Guardia and Eddie Rickenbacker being two familiar name with tons more in the mix (including Douglas MacArthur and Jimmy Doolittle). I've become more familiar with post wwi aviation in the past year as I've read a few other books on it, but this was interesting for the military side.

I may go further in depth with my review at some point.