General William ‘Billy’ Mitchell
INTRODUCTION
1. William ‘Billy’ Mitchell was the most famous and controversial figure in American airpower history. The son of a wealthy Wisconsin senator was born in the 29 December 1879 at Nice, France. He enlisted as a private soldier during the Spanish American War. Quickly gaining a commission as Second Lieutenant one week after joining the Army due to the intervention of his father, he joined the Signal Corps. He was an outstanding junior officer, displaying a rare degree of initiative, courage, and leadership. Dynamic, articulate, intelligent, charming, forceful, and politically well connected, he moved forward rapidly. Mitchell came to aviation later in life than did many of his contemporaries, but he quickly became a passionate advocate and fervent enthusiast.
2. Mitchell was a distinguished veteran of World War I, having been appointed air officer of the American Expeditionary Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in June 1917, and becoming air officer of the Signal Corps with the rank of Colonel in May 1918. In September 1918, Mitchell led the successful combined French-American bombing mission of 1,500 aircraft against the Saint-Mihiel salient. He returned from France determined to establish an independent air force and make air power the dominant weapon of modern war. His outstanding leadership and combat effectiveness earned him a star. Mitchell was appointed as Brigadier General in October 1918, and given command of the combined air services for the Meuse-Argonne offensive.
AIM
3. The aim of this paper is to analyze the ideas, theory, command, leadership and management style of Brigadier General William Billy Mitchell and draw a lesson in the context of present and future challenges.
SCOPE
4. The paper will be discussed in the following sequence:
a. The History of Air Power
b. The Battles Involve.
c. The Ideas and Theories.
d. Analysis of the Command, Leadership and Management style.
e. Lesson Learned in the Context of Present and
1. William ‘Billy’ Mitchell was the most famous and controversial figure in American airpower history. The son of a wealthy Wisconsin senator was born in the 29 December 1879 at Nice, France. He enlisted as a private soldier during the Spanish American War. Quickly gaining a commission as Second Lieutenant one week after joining the Army due to the intervention of his father, he joined the Signal Corps. He was an outstanding junior officer, displaying a rare degree of initiative, courage, and leadership. Dynamic, articulate, intelligent, charming, forceful, and politically well connected, he moved forward rapidly. Mitchell came to aviation later in life than did many of his contemporaries, but he quickly became a passionate advocate and fervent enthusiast.
2. Mitchell was a distinguished veteran of World War I, having been appointed air officer of the American Expeditionary Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in June 1917, and becoming air officer of the Signal Corps with the rank of Colonel in May 1918. In September 1918, Mitchell led the successful combined French-American bombing mission of 1,500 aircraft against the Saint-Mihiel salient. He returned from France determined to establish an independent air force and make air power the dominant weapon of modern war. His outstanding leadership and combat effectiveness earned him a star. Mitchell was appointed as Brigadier General in October 1918, and given command of the combined air services for the Meuse-Argonne offensive.
AIM
3. The aim of this paper is to analyze the ideas, theory, command, leadership and management style of Brigadier General William Billy Mitchell and draw a lesson in the context of present and future challenges.
SCOPE
4. The paper will be discussed in the following sequence:
a. The History of Air Power
b. The Battles Involve.
c. The Ideas and Theories.
d. Analysis of the Command, Leadership and Management style.
e. Lesson Learned in the Context of Present and