Franklin D. Roosevelt stood before the Kiwanis Club of New York in 1921 and said, “It is highly unlikely that an airplane, or fleet of them, could ever successfully sink a fleet of Navy vessels under combat conditions.” Billy Mitchell disagreed and proposed a series of tests, in which bombing raids would be made against stationary targets. Secretary of War, Newton Baker declared the idea so “nonsensical and impossible that I am willing to stand on the bridge while that nitwit tries to hit it from the air.” Fortunately for Baker, he was not on the bridge when Mitchell’s test runs sank the battleships Ostfiesland, Alabama, Virginia, and New Jersey.
In 1924, Mitchell wrote a report predicting Japan’s air attack on Pearl Harbor. He accused the senior leaders of the army and navy of “almost treasonable administration of the national defense.” Instead of listening, these leaders court martialed him for insubordination. In 1942, six years after his death, Mitchell was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
Last night I watched as the Civil Air Patrol presented my grandson with the “Billy Mitchell Award.” The following words were read as he accepted the honor: “The Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award honors a fearless pilot whose patriotism, foresight, and tenacity surpassed the ridicule he faced. With General Mitchell as their role model, cadet officers know that speaking truth to power is a moral duty.”
As I hear the words, “speaking truth to power,” I picture Jesus standing before Pilate, Peter and John before the High Priest, Paul before Felix, and Martin Luther before the Diet of Worms. I pray for the courage of these men whenever I am called to speak truth to power.
So glad that you could be there for the award. Great insight into Billy Mitchell, amazing man.