ARMY AVIATION DURING THE INTERWAR PERIOD

Mitchell’s Role in Army Aviation Technology Pilot Training Mitchell’s Role in Army Aviation Technology Pilot Training OVERVIEW

Most Influential Supporter –BrigGen William (Billy) Mitchell –Not originally in favor of independent Air Force Following World War I –Strongly supported Strategic Warfare as key to future wars –Army/Navy competing for few available $$ –War Dept believed defense of US counted on Navy battle fleet Navy coastal defenses Army coastal defenses *(Isolationism)* –Verbally attacked the battle fleet concept –Challenged Navy to test, 1920 –Uproar caused Navy to agree, confident he could not succeed Most Influential Supporter –BrigGen William (Billy) Mitchell –Not originally in favor of independent Air Force Following World War I –Strongly supported Strategic Warfare as key to future wars –Army/Navy competing for few available $$ –War Dept believed defense of US counted on Navy battle fleet Navy coastal defenses Army coastal defenses *(Isolationism)* –Verbally attacked the battle fleet concept –Challenged Navy to test, 1920 –Uproar caused Navy to agree, confident he could not succeed MITCHELL’S ROLE IN ARMY AVIATION

German battleship “Ostfriesland” was “unsinkable” –3 tries, 3 rd attempt with 2,000 lb specially made bombs (2-85) –Sank every ship the Navy offered –Lessons lost on Army Generals and Congress –Lessons learned by Navy, 1 st aircraft carrier in 8 months Attempts to convince American public –1 st nonstop transcontinental flight –1 st around the world flight –Many new speed and altitude records –Feeling ignored, began writing and speaking campaign –Very critical of military and Coolidge administration –Wanted separate air service and more $$ from Congress German battleship “Ostfriesland” was “unsinkable” –3 tries, 3 rd attempt with 2,000 lb specially made bombs (2-85) –Sank every ship the Navy offered –Lessons lost on Army Generals and Congress –Lessons learned by Navy, 1 st aircraft carrier in 8 months Attempts to convince American public –1 st nonstop transcontinental flight –1 st around the world flight –Many new speed and altitude records –Feeling ignored, began writing and speaking campaign –Very critical of military and Coolidge administration –Wanted separate air service and more $$ from Congress MITCHELL’S ROLE IN ARMY AVIATION

Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline –Criticized defenses, particularly Pearl Harbor, 1924 –Relieved of command, reduced to Colonel –Denied reappointment as Assistant Chief of the Air Service –In 1925, after a Navy flight to Hawaii disappeared and dirigible Shenandoah crashed: “The high command of both the Army and the Navy are guilty of incompetency, criminal negligence and almost treasonable administration of the national defense.” –War Dept finally court marshals him, 1925 Suspended from rank, command, and duty Public lost interest, Great Depression got worse, isolationism more wide-spread Died 1936 –Some of what he sought happened –WWII supported Mitchell’s theories Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline –Criticized defenses, particularly Pearl Harbor, 1924 –Relieved of command, reduced to Colonel –Denied reappointment as Assistant Chief of the Air Service –In 1925, after a Navy flight to Hawaii disappeared and dirigible Shenandoah crashed: “The high command of both the Army and the Navy are guilty of incompetency, criminal negligence and almost treasonable administration of the national defense.” –War Dept finally court marshals him, 1925 Suspended from rank, command, and duty Public lost interest, Great Depression got worse, isolationism more wide-spread Died 1936 –Some of what he sought happened –WWII supported Mitchell’s theories MITCHELL’S ROLE IN ARMY AVIATION

Air-to-air refueling 1923, 37 hours, 15 minutes with hose from another plane 16 times, 50 gallons each 1929, civilian female pilots –Coast to coast, dawn to dusk flight, 1924 –“Blind” takeoff and landing, 1929 Lt James H. Doolittle (2-89) Instruments for flight, navigation and 2-way radios –Paratroops, 1929, 17 men, 3,000 ft, equipment –B-17, 1935, could out fly any fighter (2-91) –Fighters lagged behind Air-to-air refueling 1923, 37 hours, 15 minutes with hose from another plane 16 times, 50 gallons each 1929, civilian female pilots –Coast to coast, dawn to dusk flight, 1924 –“Blind” takeoff and landing, 1929 Lt James H. Doolittle (2-89) Instruments for flight, navigation and 2-way radios –Paratroops, 1929, 17 men, 3,000 ft, equipment –B-17, 1935, could out fly any fighter (2-91) –Fighters lagged behind TECHNOLOGY

Army Air Corps Expansion –Germany invades Poland and Czechoslovakia –Not enough pilots if US entered WWII (sound familiar) –1939, 1,200 to 3,200 officers –Aircrew and ground technicians –Air Corps didn’t have instructors, facilities, nor experience –550 pilots a year Contract Schools –Air Corps “discovered” 23 civilian schools, 1938 –Jan, Gen Hap Arnold convinced 9 civilian schools to train –July, Congress approves $$ by only 2 votes –2,400 to 12,000 to 30,000 to 110,000 including Allied pilots Army Air Corps Expansion –Germany invades Poland and Czechoslovakia –Not enough pilots if US entered WWII (sound familiar) –1939, 1,200 to 3,200 officers –Aircrew and ground technicians –Air Corps didn’t have instructors, facilities, nor experience –550 pilots a year Contract Schools –Air Corps “discovered” 23 civilian schools, 1938 –Jan, Gen Hap Arnold convinced 9 civilian schools to train –July, Congress approves $$ by only 2 votes –2,400 to 12,000 to 30,000 to 110,000 including Allied pilots PILOT TRAINING

Civilian Program –1939 to 1944, paid civilian schools to train pilots –300,000 pilots –Tuskegee airmen, 1941, accidental meeting with Senator Truman with support from Eleanor Roosevelt Indirect acknowledgment that the US was unprepared to fight a war Civilian Program –1939 to 1944, paid civilian schools to train pilots –300,000 pilots –Tuskegee airmen, 1941, accidental meeting with Senator Truman with support from Eleanor Roosevelt Indirect acknowledgment that the US was unprepared to fight a war PILOT TRAINING

CONCLUSION Mitchell’s Role in Army Aviation Technology Pilot Training Mitchell’s Role in Army Aviation Technology Pilot Training