steve on Nostr: “Winged Defense” by William “Billy” Mitchell ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Billy ...
“Winged Defense” by William “Billy” Mitchell
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Billy Mitchell has gone down in history as one of air power’s most outspoken advocates—it even got him courtmartialed after WWI. His book, Winged Defense, lays out his vision for what air power can do for the United States in the 1920s. In an attempt to emulate A.T. Mahan’s naval advocacy a few decades prior, Mitchell’s “pitch” tells a tale of a country connected by airways, transporting mail at fractions of the cost of roads, and defended by scores of aircraft. Interestingly, much of Mitchell’s vision did come true. The USAF became an independent service in 1946 and the FAA coordinates civil aviation across the country. Despite his foresight, Mitchell’s message is muddied by hubris and an all-or-nothing approach that viewed airplanes has replacing the entirety of the navy (excluding submarines) and most of the army. This is certainly a period piece but one worth reading if you’re curious about what the early pioneers of a new domain were thinking. It’s particularly insightful considering we are now active in space; begging the question: who is today’s Billy Mitchell? 🛩️💣
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Billy Mitchell has gone down in history as one of air power’s most outspoken advocates—it even got him courtmartialed after WWI. His book, Winged Defense, lays out his vision for what air power can do for the United States in the 1920s. In an attempt to emulate A.T. Mahan’s naval advocacy a few decades prior, Mitchell’s “pitch” tells a tale of a country connected by airways, transporting mail at fractions of the cost of roads, and defended by scores of aircraft. Interestingly, much of Mitchell’s vision did come true. The USAF became an independent service in 1946 and the FAA coordinates civil aviation across the country. Despite his foresight, Mitchell’s message is muddied by hubris and an all-or-nothing approach that viewed airplanes has replacing the entirety of the navy (excluding submarines) and most of the army. This is certainly a period piece but one worth reading if you’re curious about what the early pioneers of a new domain were thinking. It’s particularly insightful considering we are now active in space; begging the question: who is today’s Billy Mitchell? 🛩️💣