Billy Mitchell is the most famous and controversial figure in American airpower history. The son of a wealthy Wisconsin senator, he enlisted as a private during the Spanish-American War. During World War I he commanded all Allied air assets in the St. Mihiel Offensive. After the war he created additional controversy by demonstrating that aircraft could sink battleships, and forecasting a Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor. He died in New York City on February 19, 1936, but his plea for an independent air force was met to a degree in the creation of GHQ Air Force in March 1935. He was posthumously awarded a special Congressional Gold Medal often confused with the Medal of Honor.
Sponsored by:
William
Lendrum “Billy”
Mitchell
December 28, 1879
–
February 19, 1936
Cemetery:
Forest Home Cemetery
Awards Received
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Army Air ServiceRank:
Brigadier GeneralDivision:
American Expeditionary ForcesAction Date:
World War I
War Department, General Orders No. 87 (1919)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General William Lendrum “Billy” Mitchell, United States Army Air Service, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Air Service Commander, first of the zone of advance and later of the 1st Army Corps, by his tireless energy and keen perception, General Mitchell performed duties of great importance with marked ability. Subsequently as Commander, Air Service, of the 1st Army, and, in addition, after formation of the 2d Army as Commander of Air Service of both armies, by his able direction of these vitally important services he proved to be a potent factor in the successes achieved during the operations of the American armies.
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ServiceRank:
Brigadier GeneralDivision:
American Expeditionary ForcesAction Date:
March 26, July, and September 12 – 16, 1918
War Department, General Orders No. 120 (1918)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General (Signal Corps) William Lendrum “Billy” Mitchell, United States Army Air Service, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Chief of Air Service, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., in action at Noyon, France, 26 March 1918; near the Marne River, France, during July, 1918; and in the St. Mihiel salient, France, 12 to 16 September 1918. For displaying bravery far beyond that required by his position as Chief of Air Service, 1st Army, American Expeditionary Forces, setting a personal example to the United States aviation by piloting his airplane over the battle lines since the entry of the United States into the war, some instances being a flight in a monoplane over the battle of Noyon on 26 March 1918, and the back areas, seeing and reporting upon the action of both air and ground troops, which led to a change in our aviation’s tactical methods; a flight in a monoplane over the bridges which the Germans had laid across the Marne during July 1918, which led to the first definite reports of the location of these bridges and the subsequent attack upon the German troops by our air forces; daily reconnaissances over the lines during the battle of St. Mihiel salient, September 12 to 16, securing valuable information of the enemy troops in the air and on the ground, which led to the excellent combined action by the allied air services and ground troops particularly this battle.