WILLIAM MITCHELL: A Comparison
analysis with GIULIO DOUHET
William Mitchell was a trailblazing figure in air power theory, often regarded as one of the
greatest minds in the field after Douhet. Born on December 29, 1879, in Nice, France, Mitchell's
family relocated to the United States when he was just three years old. Growing up in a
influential family, with his father serving as a senator, Mitchell leveraged his family's
connections to secure a commission as a second lieutenant in the Volunteer Signal Company.
His military career took him to the Philippines in Oct 1899, where he fought against insurgent
forces led by Emilio Aguinaldo. Mitchell's experiences in combat likely shaped his perspectives
on strategy and leadership. A significant turning point in his career came in March 1917 when
he was sent to France as an aeronautical observer, marking the beginning of his deep dive into
aviation and air power theory.
Mitchell's contributions to the field of air warfare are reflected in his three books and
numerous articles, which draw upon his practical experience and theoretical expertise. This
article provides a brief overview of his key works, highlighting their significance in the context
of aeromilitary studies.
a) In his 1921 “Our Air Force” book, he describes air power as a revolutionary weapon but
one that would take its place alongside the other services. Mitchell proposed using air
power as a major contributor to a land or sea campaign not as a substitute for them.
b) In his 1925 book "Winged Defense: The Development and Possibilities of Modern Air
Power - Economic and Military", he emphasized not only the need for an independent
air force based on strategic bombing but also a reduced emphasis on surface warfare.
His attacks on the Navy were especially harsh.
c) In his 1930 book "Skyways", a comprehensive guide to modern aeronautics, he covers
various topics including aviation fundamentals, flight operations, aircraft, safety, and the
future of aviation. The book provides insights into the development and potential of
aviation, encompassing aspects such as manned flight, engines, flight training, airfields,
commercial aviation, safety devices, and aeronautical law, thereby offering a broad
understanding of the field.
MITCHELL’S DOCTRINE
“Assign the troops the aviation which they need for their own operations, that is,
Observation Squadron to the Army Corps. For use by the infantry and artillery” means
although he argues about independent role of air force but the coordination should be
in all wings (army, air force and navy).
“All the rest, which is made up of the great bulk of the aviation, particularly pursuit
bombardment, is to “be out into a central mass and hurled at the enemy’s aviation”
means airpower should be concentrated to attack the enemy’s air capabilities.
“After attack on enemy’s aviation his ground troops,his trains, his depots of ammunition
and supplies and his railroad, stations and his airdromes are attacked both day and night
so as a force him to either arise and The strategy involves a multi-faceted attack on the
enemy's resources, targeting their air force, ground troops, trains, supply depots,
railroad stations, and airfields. These attacks would be carried out day and night, with
the ultimate goal of forcing the enemy into a difficult position. They would either have
to engage in combat, potentially weakening their defenses, or risk losing their aircraft
while still on the ground, thereby diminishing their air power capabilities. This approach
aims to gain a significant advantage by disrupting the enemy's ability to operate
effectively.
Mitchell said, “It is unnecessary that these cities be destroyed, in the sense that every
house be levelled with the ground. It will be sufficient to have the civilian population driven out
so that they cannot carry on their usual vocations. A few gas bombs will do that.” In other
words, they look at an alternative way besides indiscriminate strategic bombardment, where
gas bombs can be used to create chaos, panic, fear, and unrest among the civilian population of
the enemy country. Essentially, they see gas bombing as a means to achieve the desired
psychological impact and create a psychological effect within the enemy country, using gas
bombs as a tool to implement psychological tactics.
The main objective isn't just to harm infantry soldiers, but to target key military bases,
industrial infrastructure, business corridors, and the main economic channels. The goal is to
destroy these through air attacks. If a country's air force can eliminate the enemy's air force
and cause significant destruction, rendering the enemy unable to retaliate, that's considered air
superiority.
The only effective defence against aerial attack is to whip the enemy’s force in air
battle.
CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN
MITCHELL AND DOUHET
1. Douhet believed that to create chaos in the enemy country through strategic
bombing, directly targeting civilians would be acceptable. However, General
Mitchell disagreed. According to Mitchell, chaos could be created by attacking
industrial infrastructure and agricultural assets, which would undermine
civilian morale and cause it to collapse. Directly targeting civilians wasn't
necessary to achieve this goal.
2. Michel wanted a separate air force that could do various tasks like air battles,
targeted bombing, and coastal protection. He believed the air force was key to
defending against enemy air and sea attacks. This differed from Douhet view,
which focused on strategic bombing and only around command of air. Michel
saw more potential for an independent air force, but might have missed the
broader implications.
3. While both Douhet and Mitchell espoused the efficacy of air power, their
rationales diverged significantly. Douhet's advocacy stemmed from a
theoretical paradigm, whereas Mitchell's endorsement was rooted in his
experiential familiarity with the air force, lending a pragmatic dimension to his
perspective.
4. While Douhet advocated for strategic bombardment utilizing multipurpose
medium-speed aircraft (MMSA) so that in peace time aircraft can be used for
commercial work and in war time as fighter aircraft. Mitchell, in contrast,
underscored the efficacy of fighter aircraft in executing aerial assaults, thereby
highlighting a divergent approach to air power deployment.
5. Douhet marginalized the significance of ground forces, advocating for a
limited role of territorial defense, instead prioritizing the destruction of enemy
resources over the annihilation of ground troops. In contrast, Mitchell's
strategy entailed a dual approach, targeting both critical enemy resources and
decisively defeating ground forces through aerial assaults.
6. While remaining taciturn regarding the deployment of paratroopers, in stark
contrast, Mitchell fervently advocated for their utilization in combat,
predicating his argument on the element of surprise that paratroopers could
provide, thereby gaining a strategic advantage over the adversary.
7. In contradistinction to Douhet, Mitchell was averse to the employment of
chemical warfare in combat. He articulated his stance by stating that the
potential future utilization of such weapons would be antithetical to his
convictions, and he disclaimed responsibility for any such eventuality,
distancing himself from the prospect of chemical warfare.
In contradistinction to Douhet, Mitchell was averse to the employment of chemical warfare in
combat. He articulated his stance by stating that the potential future utilization of such
weapons would be antithetical to his convictions, and he disclaimed responsibility for any such
eventuality, distancing himself from the prospect of chemical warfare.
REFERENCES
1. “Important strategic thinker of the world”
----------- Dr. Ramakrishna Singh, Dr. Rakesh Singh, Dr. Rajwant Singh
(Page no. 71 to 75), SHARDA PUSTAK BHAWAN ALLAHABAD
2. STRATEGIC THOUGHT :ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
--------------------------------------Dr. Ramsurat Pandey (Page no. 221 to 222)
3. THE FATHER OF AIR POWER DOCTRINE,MAGZINE(MICHAEL G. STROUD)
4. MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM ‘BILLY’ MITCHELL, LEARNIING POCKE,published by
NATIONAL HEAD QUARTERS CIVIL AIR PATROL,ALBAMA.
5. [Link]
and-their-relevance-today/
6. William “Billy” Mitchell’s Air Power Compiled from the published and unpublished
writings and commentaries of William Mitchell by LT COL JOHNNY R. JONES, USAF
Airpower Research Institute College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 36112-5532