William Billy Mitchell was an important figure to the United States because of his persistent support of military aircraft
. In fact, he insisted that the U.S. army provide a separate division dedicated specifically to aircraft
, which would later become the U.S. Air Force. However, planes were mostly contraptions made of wood, wire, and cloth (Waller 3). Given that airplanes were small and weak at his time, Mitchell's ideas were both doubted and rejected. Mitchell was often impatient and rude to his superiors seeing that the majority was ignorant in becoming aware of air power. William Billy Mitchell, a controversial military U.S. General, valued the importance and necessity of aviation, which influenced the U.S. Army to later make a separate division for airplanes called the U.S. Air Force.
Mitchell's whole career was related to the military. He first started off by being recruited as a private during the Spanish-American War in 1898 at the age of 18. Later on, he served in Cuba and the Philippines in the Army Signal Corps. He then advanced to the rank of a Captain at the age of 32 in Washington. Mitchell was promoted to the rank of a Major four years later and began to believe aviation was the future of the military. He was 36 years old in the winter of 1915 when he enrolled in the flying school of the Curtis Company (Levine 86). A year later, World War I began, so Billy Mitchell was assigned as a Lieutenant Colonel to fight in it. Because he was victorious at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, where he managed about 1,500 planes to support the American ground forces, he proceeded to Brigadier General. When he returned to the United States on February 17, 1919, he was an American hero. In eleven days, he became employed to Assistant...
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...he military. His lasting impression deals with laying a foundation for the U.S. Air Force. Mitchell not encouraged and supported the use aviation, but he proved aerial bombing advantages over naval forces by his experiment which sank a costly naval battleship. He also saw Japan as a serious threat, which would be evident in both World War II and the attack of Pearl Harbor. Most people during his time may have considered him of embracing radical ideas, but later generations may recognize him as an admirable hard worker, devoted to a critical reform in the military. The United States now honors him for his efforts and determination into persuading the U.S. on how important an air force is. In 1946, President Harry Truman signed legislation giving Mitchell a medal in "recognition of outstanding pioneering service and foresight in the files of American aviation" (Glines).
For as long as most of the world can remember aviation has played a major factor in how wars are fought. Starting in World War I the worlds fighting forces began using aircraft to conduct surveillance missions over enemy territory. While these aircraft were not the masters of stealth that todays aircraft are there was no technology to take down these planes at the time. Air-to-air combat was an event that rarely happened and was almost never effective.
After that he went into the Air Force academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and advanced into a flight leader and training officer which then he got the ranking of a captain. During his duty he was stationed in North America and Europe. Shorty after serving in the air force he went to become an air pilot with Pacific Southline Airlines. Later on he transferred to US airways and stayed with them until he retired from commercial flying in early 2010.
The history of flying dates back as early as the fifteenth century. A Renaissance man named Leonardo da Vinci introduced a flying machine known as the ornithopter. Da Vinci proposed the idea of a machine that had bird like flying capabilities. Today no ornithopters exist due to the restrictions of humans, and that the ornithopters just aren’t practical. During the eighteenth century a philosopher named Sir George Cayley had practical ideas of modern aircraft. Cayley never really designed any workable aircraft, but had many incredible ideas such as lift, thrust, and rigid wings to provide for lift. In the late nineteenth century the progress of aircraft picks up. Several designers such as Henson and Langley, both paved the way for the early 1900’s aircraft design. Two of the most important people in history of flight were the Wright Brothers. The Wright Brothers were given the nickname the “fathers of the heavier than air flying machine” for their numerous flights at their estate in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright created a motor-powered biplane in which they established incredible feats of the time. The Wright Brothers perfected their design of the heavier than air flying ma...
Attended Oregon State University 1946 – 1950 and received a BS. Degree. Taught High School Science for eight months at Benson High School before being recalled to active duty for the Korean War on 1 April 1951. Assigned 816th TCS and flew C-119s out of Ashiya, Japan in support of the Korean War. Promoted to Captain 1 June 1952.
World War One was known as the war that would end all wars. At first, airplanes in the war were thought to have just little combat use. An unknown British general even commented, " The airplane is useless for the purpose of war." In the beginning of the First World War, the airplanes were pretty simple and raw. By the end of the war, aircraft had become more advanced and had split off into fighters, bombers and long-range bombers. The specifications of the airplanes were changed to meet the war's requirements. When the War started in August of 1914, British airmen were associated with the British army and their commissioned officers had army ranks. Before the United State’s declaration of war in 1917, American nationals had enlisted in British and French air services including the Lafayette Escadrille. By the time the war ended in November of 1918, the Royal Flying Corps no longer prevailed and was absorbed into the recently developed Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force now had its own command structure away from the army and provided its own ranks.
World War II was a critical period for America, not to mention the world as well. Throughout all the fighting and bloodshed, Americans returned home successful. Over 700,000 soldiers were disabled after the war, thankful for their lives. All the success and happiness of this country wouldn’t have been possible if not for the bravery, courage, and strategies of our U.S. Generals. They provided the smarts, the morale, and motivation for our soldiers, navy, and airforce to come out victorious and recognized as the best in world history. The five major generals (George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, Omar Bradley, and Douglas MacArthur) shall never be forgotten as the best generals America has ever had.
You may know Adolf Hitler or President Roosevelt, but do you know Gregory “Pappy” Boyington? He may not be as famous as Hitler but he made a difference in WWII. He was a marine pilot.
Before the war, African-American pilots weren't able to fly in battle due to segregation, even though blacks have been flying for a while beforehand, including pilots such as Bessie Coleman, Charles Alfred Anderson, and more, who'd fought oppression to become pilots (George 5). Army officials thought blacks couldn't fight, aren't as smart as whites, and weren't worthy enough of operating machines as complicated as airplanes. There was hope for African Americans who wanted to fly in the 1930s, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt began to build up the U.S. armed forces, thinking of military-related ideas such as teaching civilians to fly, passing the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) in April 1939, which would provide training for 20,000 college students yearly as private pilots, and soon allowed the Secretary of War to lend equipment to schools for African-American pilot training (George 6). While this program was being developed, Edgar G. Brown, an African-American spokesman for government employees, arranged an unusual flight. Two black pilots from the National Airmen's Association, Dale White and Chauncey Spencer, would fly from Chicago, IL to Washington, D.C. in a run-down biplane. They met with Missouri senator and future president Harry S. Truman on May 9, 1939. Aviation was fairly new and a feat like this was impressive, and thus, it had impressed the president. Harry S. Truman was going to help them, and with the ...
“I cut the emergency switch just in time to keep ‘Winnie Mae’ from making an exhibition of herself by standing on her nose. That would have been fatal to our hopes.” –Wiley Post Throughout his incredible career, Mr. Wiley H. Post unceasingly strived for excellence and continuously pushed the envelope in aviation. Despite several hardships and the obstacles he faced, he never knew the meaning of giving up. He made numerous breakthroughs during the era of the Golden Age of Aviation. In these following paragraphs you will see several “snapshots” of the amazing life of a one-eyed pilot who drastically changed aviation. Wiley H. Post, the pilot who put it all on the line to fly not only a little faster, at a little higher altitude, but a little farther than everyone else, just one more time.
Admiral Stockdale is best known for his leadership capabilities during the Vietnam War where he was the highest ranked officer in the prisoner of war camp. Stockdale was a 1946 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and became the first pilot to accumulate more than 1000 hours of flight time in the F-8U Crusader. The North Vietnamese
The Tuskegee Airmen fought in two wars one against overseas enemies, and one against racism within the American military. Rudy Leon is the secretary of defense and gave a speech on their achievements in aviation. "Together the Tuskegee Airmen and the Organization of Black Airline Pilots have much to be proud of, and it's wonderful to come here and be reminded of how much you've accomplished in schools, in communities, and for the young men and women who serve in uniform, and to see how much energy and enthusiasm you are bringing to your new endeavors." (de Leon) The Airman were awarded for their achievements in ethnicity, and attitudes among races.They were involved in many military organization such as armorers, bombardiers, engineers, navigators, and maintenance and supply personnel. The airman fought two wars, one against overseas enemies, and one against racism within the American military. Leon also talked about their heroism with discrimination. "I think that is a tribute not only to your heroism, but to impact to continue shaping attitudes. (de Leon) Leon focused on how the airman reached their goals, and honored them with accreditation and service. They were the first African American pilots to shoot down German jets on a mission. They earned Distinguished Unit Citation of the war because of their heroism that contributed to the 332nd Fighter Group's.
However, he never took part in combat and stated stateside. He narrated training films and was in the Army Air Force First Motion Picture Unit.” (Martin Kelly, n.d.).... ... middle of paper ... ...
Many people have been born that have struck a chord with the world. Some people have become legends, patriots and even heroes. Though one person stood out among the rest, this one was not made a hero, but was born to be one. He was a hero at what he strived to be in life and he has captured the attention of the public like no other solider has done before or since. This great Canadian Air Force Ace became one of the legendary figures in 20th century air warfare. With his daring and dramatic dogfights in France, he achieved a record of 72 kills in his many encounters. His role on the ground during the Second World War training pilots changed and inspired a whole new generation of fighter pilots. This man is known as Billy Bishop, the legendary and great Canadian hero who captured and won the respect of his enemies, comrades and the world.
In 1968, the United States Army activated the 123rd Aviation Battalion, creating a remarkable unit that was comprised of several Army assets. The design of the battalion revolutionized how assets could be combined to complete many missions by mixing infantry, signal, aviation, and support units. The 123rd’s mission ranged from was to collect intelligence, deliver supplies, insert and extract infantrymen, and provide air support. In addition to their primary mission they also participated in medical evacuation, an invaluable asset on the battlefields of Vietnam.
Planes have developed immensely through the years. The Wright brothers developed the first plane in 1903.