Politics of Air Power

R. Rice Rondall

Description

The Politics of Air Power examines the turbulent development of relations between U.S. Army aviation leaders and civilian officials during the 1920s and 1930s. In the early 1920s Brigadier General William “Billy” Mitchell and a group of Army Air Service officers tried to force the creation of an independent air force against presidential wishes. They forged political alliances, used propaganda to arouse public sentiment, and circumvented their superiors to appeal directly to congressmen. Mitchell, a flamboyant, popular, and powerful personality, led these efforts and was ultimately court-martialed.

Following Mitchell, aviation leaders were careful to avoid distressing presidents, Congresses, and an American public upset at Mitchell’s challenges to civilian control. Tensions persisted, however, and the Air Corps took another step backward when Major General Benjamin Foulois misled Congress and the president and revived the image of the Air Corps as a radical element. Not until Major Generals Oscar Westover and “Hap” Arnold, a former radical himself, abandoned the crusade for immediate independence and emphasized cooperation within the Army and with civilian authorities did the Air Corps develop a stable and cooperative relationship with the president and Congress. Rondall R. Rice demonstrates that during the interwar period, civil-military relations between Army aviation leaders and civilian officials developed unevenly from confrontation to cooperation.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Military history
• History

Informations

• Publié par: Nebraska Paperback
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2004
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780803204485
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

t h e p o l i t i c s o f a i r p o w e r

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studies in war, society, and the military

Editors Mark Grimsley Ohio State University Peter Maslowski University of Nebraska

Editorial Board D’Ann Campbell Austin Peay State University Mark A. Clodfelter National War College Brooks D. Simpson Arizona State University Roger J. Spiller Combat Studies Institute U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth Timothy H. E. Travers University of Calgary Arthur Waldron U.S. Naval War College

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The Politics of Air Power

From Confrontation to Cooperation in

Army Aviation CivilMilitary Relations

r o n d a l l r . r i c e

University of Nebraska Press Lincoln and London

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©2004by the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America  Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Rice, Rondall Ravon. The politics of air power : from confrontation to cooperation in army aviation civilmilitary relations / Rondall R. Rice. p. m.—(Studies in war, society, and the military) Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 0803239602(cloth : alk. paper) 1. United States. Army. Air Corps—Political activity. 2. Air power—United States—History—20th century. 3. Civilmilitary relations—United States—History—20th century. 4. United States—Politics and government—1919–1933. 5. United States—Politics and government—1933–1945. I. Title. II. Series. ug633.r47 2004 322'.5'097309042—dc22 2004013676

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For “My Girls”

Annette, Kathleen, and Rachel

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Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction: From Confrontation to Cooperation Prologue: The Trial of Billy Mitchell 1. Billy Mitchell and the Politics of Insurgency,1919–1923 2. The Politics of Investigations,1924–1925 3. Last Acts of the Rebels,1925–1926 4. The Impact of an “AirMinded” Civilian,1926–1932 5. Conflict Within and Without,1933–1934 6. Moderates and Money,1935–1938 7. The Politics of Air Corps Expansion,1938–1940 Epilogue: CivilMilitary Relations and Change in Military Organizations Notes Bibliography Index

ix xiii 1 9 33 59 74 96 130 154

173 181 259 271

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Acknowledgments

A work of this magnitude requires the assistance of many. I must first thank the United States Air Force, the Air Force Academy, and the Academy’s De partment of History for allowing me the time and opportunity to complete this work. Under the short time allotted me out of the “line of the Air Force,” I needed understanding and valuable help from many different organizations to complete the research and writing. I visited the Washingtondcarea the most, and many people extended helping hands. Undoubtedly, the most valuable assistance came from Mitchell Yockelson at National Archives II. He helped me navigate the dusty boxes of records and uncover sources I may never have otherwise found. Kate Snodgrass likewise guided me through the maze of congressional records and sources at the downtown archives. Unfortunately, I do not have the space to thank all of those friendly and knowledgeable individuals at the Library of Congress’s Manuscript Division, without whose help this work would be far from complete. Two presidential libraries provided invaluable sources, and their associ ated organizations offered muchneeded funding. At the Hoover Library, Patrick Wildenburg and Lynn Smith shared their expertise and knowledge of the sources and gave me valuable advice on every aspect of my visit. I also very much appreciate the research and travel grant provided by the Hoover Presidential Library Association and the aid of Patricia Hand, Manager of Academic Programs. They all made my visit to West Branch, Iowa, reward ing and enjoyable. I will mirror all of those same accolades to the Roosevelt Library and staff and the generous grant given by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. The only thing that rivaled working in the library with the wonderful staff was being in the Hudson Valley at the height of the fall colors. The United States Air Force Academy Library Special Collections Branch was the final major source I tapped. The director, Duane Reed, and his as sistant, John Beardsley, made me quite comfortable at my alma mater and stood ready to assist me via mail and on my summer visit. Although my visits to other places were not as long, I wish to thank the staffs of the Center for

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