Museum Audio Tour 04: Early Years Gallery: Interwar Years

DAYTON, OHIO, UNITED STATES

12.31.1969

Audio by NMUSAF PA 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

The interwar years saw new developments in aviation. One of the most colorful and controversial figures in Air Force history, Brig. Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell set out to demonstrate the potential of the bomber. Mitchell is perhaps most remembered for pressing his theory that bombers could defend the coastlines of the United States and sink a battleship. Many generals and admirals would not hear of it, but in 1921, using Martin MB-2 bombers, Mitchell succeeded in doing exactly that! In addition, Gen. Mitchell was one of the first officers to promote the concept that the Air Force should be a separate branch of the military, but that was not destined to happen in his lifetime. Dr. Michael Grumelli offers these thoughts on Billy Mitchell. “And there is a continuous theme in Mitchell’s writing about aviation and preparedness and betrayal that is consistent. That we lost people because we were not ready to do this business in the air. How long can you expect first rate airmen to fly in third rate equipment? How long will you rush young men through training to the fight?” And changes did come about. Although the Curtiss P-6 and Boeing P-12 show little difference between the technology of this period and that of a World War I fighter, there were big improvements just around the corner. The most advanced bomber of the period was the B-10 – the first all-metal monoplane with an enclosed cockpit, rotating gun turret and retractable landing gear. Introduced in the 1930s, the B-10 had double the speed of any biplane bomber and was as fast as any biplane fighter of the day. This particular B-10, the last known remaining model, was originally sold to the government of Argentina in 1938 and was donated by that country to the museum in 1971.

• Date Taken: 12.31.1969
• Date Posted: 09.02.2015 12:13
• Category: Newscasts
• Audio ID: 41882
• Filename: 1509/DOD_102704015.mp3
• Length: 00:02:06
• Album: Museum Audio Tour
• Track #: 04
• Location: DAYTON, OHIO, US