Billy Mitchell (The Art of War)
Publisher: Lynne Rienner Publishers; Lynne Rienner Pub
Published: May 2002
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 290
ISBN-13: 9781588260826
Subjects: American history: First World War; Biography: historical; Theory of warfare & military science; Mitchell, William,; General; Air And Space Forces; History; Biography / Autobiography; Military - General; History: World; USA; Generals; Aeronautics, Military; United States; 1879-1936; 20th century; Biography
Description: "This chronicle of a controversial figure - a man who could be charming, fanatical, arrogant, and confrontational - places Billy Mitchell in the context of the great debates over U.S. air power between the world wars. Mitchell demonstrated during World War I that massive air power could decisively affect combat operations on the ground, and he argued vehemently to anyone who would listen that air power would be the decisive factor in the next war - a war that he was certain would be fought with Japan.

But his brilliance was often overshadowed by his personal failings.".

"In a highly publicized trial, Mitchell was court-martialed and found guilty, ostensibly for openly attacking the Navy and the War Department over the fatal crash of the airship Shenandoah, but primarily for making public his warnings about U.S. weaknesses in the air.

Although the air attack on Pearl Harbor made Mitchell look to some like a prophet martyred for his integrity, Cooke revises that portrait to reveal a character fatally flawed by consuming ambition and a man who was a victim only of circumstances of his own creation."--BOOK JACKET.