Billy Mitchell

Billy Mitchell, born William Lendrum Mitchell on December 29, 1879, was a United States Army officer and is considered the father of the United States Air Force. During World War I, he commanded all American air combat units in France. Mitchell advocated for increased investment in air power, particularly the use of bombers to sink battleships. He organized bombing runs against stationary ships to test this idea. However, his criticism and insubordination against Army and Navy leaders led to his court-martial for insubordination in 1925. Despite this, Mitchell's advocacy for air power laid the foundation for the future development and prominence of the United States Air Force.