The Billy Mitchell Affair
About this book
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 From such previously classified documents and reports, and numerous interviews and unpublished letters, Burke Davis has finally portrayed in the round one of the most fascinating of American heroes.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.