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This is Volume One of The Army Air Forces in World War II, titled Plans and Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942, edited by Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate. The University of Chicago Press first published it in 1948, and the Office of Air Force History reprinted it in 1983. The front matter explains how the AAF historical program was set up during the war. The index covers Pacific, Atlantic and European operations, and nothing in the text concerns unidentified aerial phenomena.
“Williams Air Force Base”12 pages
T H E A R M Y A I R F O R C E S I N W O R L D W A R I1 ranged widely and was avidly followed in the press, until the case became essentially a trial of air power before the bar of public opinion rather than of Mitchell on charges under the omnibus 96th Article of War. Mitchell was found guilty as charged and suspended from duty for five years, a sentence which brought his early resignation from the Army.41 But, as one newspaper had predicted, “ ‘Mitchellism’ will remain after Colonel Mitchell has gone.” 4 2 The verdict was highlighted by the almost simultaneous publication of two conflicting reports on the status of military aviation. On 10 September the secretaries of War and the Navy had asked President Coolidge to appoint a committee to consider “the best means of developing and applying aircraft in National Defense.” 4 3 The request, coming before Lampert’s congressional committee had reported, was of questionable taste; it was widely interpreted as a means of counter- acting unfavorable publicity from the Mitchell trial and the antici- pated recommendations of the Lampert group. Coolidge, opposed to the independent air force and to the troublesome Mitchell, named a committee headed by Dwight W. Morrow. Critics of the existing air regime were not soothed by the President’s letter of appointment which expressed the hope that Morrow’s efforts would “result in bringing out the good qualities of the Air Service.” 4 4 The Morrow Board heard all the familiar arguments reiterated by familiar witnesses (including Mitchell, awaiting trial), and its findings were released on 3 December in time to neutralize criticism of the Mitchell The report was a general vindication of the status quo. It held that there was no danger of an air attack on the United States and that our air force compared favorably with that of any other power. Because the board did not “consider that air power, as an arm of national de- fense, has as yet demonstrated its value for independent operations,” it opposed the creation of a separate air force; the unified Department of Defense was rejected as too complex and inefficient. The report recognized the distinction, insisted on by Patrick and the Lassiter Board, between support aviation and the offensive striking force; but the positive recommendations listed were only a sop to continued agitation. The name of the Air Service should be changed to Air Corps, which should have representation in the General Staff and two addi- tional brigadier generals. The only concession to the move for depart- mental reorganization was the suggestion that an assistant secretary be 2 8
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