Comments by "" (@BobSmith-dk8nw) on "'Billy' Mitchell - Insufferably Right or just Insufferable?" video.

Thanks. That was the most complete version of those tests I've seen. The thing with Mitchell, Harris and Douhet - was that they were all Theorists. There was a lot of that going around between the wars - with such as Armor as well. I've got a copy of Guderian's Achtung Panser! somewhere and - it's all interwar theory. These people were essentially fanatics for their Causes. True Believers - but - they had only very limited experience to go on. At the Battle of Jutland - the Air Campaign part of it - was Zeppelin's cruising around trying to find the British. What they found I ironically - was the British Sea Plane Tender. So (iirc) the Zepp was trying to bomb the ship and the ship had it's crews out shooting at the Zepp with rifles. Initially the crew of the Zepp - laughed at the sailors shooting at them with rifles - but then - their Air Ship began to sink in altitude. The Rifles had punched so many holes in the Zepp's Gas bags - that it was becoming a real issue and the Zepp - had to head home. So much for the Air Battle of Jutland. But that's the type of things these people had to go on. Look at Tank Destroyers. Things were different with Commerce Raiding Submarines - and escorting against them. The British and the Germans had a good deal of real experience with that. But tanks and planes? Not so much. One thing I will say about Mitchell is he was loyal to his Fliers. The Military had saved a lot of money buying used British aircraft after the war - and the people managing Air Ships - didn't know what they were doing. Those Senior Military People were getting a lot of Fliers killed. Mitchell was intentionally Insubordinate - Forcing them to Court Martial him - for the express purpose of exposing their incompetence to the public. One thing about True Believers - they know how to use the Press. They are fanatics - and not hesitant about bringing on their own destruction. Mitchell intentionally sacrificed himself for his men. Whatever the mans faults with theory - he stood up for his men when it was real. There has been speculation about the Naming of the B-25 the Mitchell - because - Mitchell hated that kind of aircraft. Strategic Heavy Bombers yes - Tactical Medium Bombers - no. It's hard to say not knowing the intent of the people who named the plane. Where they Honoring him - or - making fun of him? IDK. .
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