William Mitchell Trial Scrapbooks

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Colonel William Lendrum "Billy" Mitchell (1879-1936) of the U.S. Army Air Service, a leading proponent of air power, was court-martialed for insubordination in October – December 1925 after publically criticizing the Navy and War Departments. This collection consists of two scrapbooks of material relating to the court-martial by William Webb, a member of Mitchell's defense team.

An active participant in American military aviation since its beginnings, Colonel William L. "Billy" Mitchell (1879-1936) was closely involved in shaping air policy and air defense strategy in the 1920s. Mitchell publically criticized the Navy and War Departments in the wake of the crash of the U.S. Navy rigid airship "Shenandoah" on September 3, 1925. His actions resulted in a court-martial held from October – December 1925 for insubordination and "Conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the military service." Mitchell was found guilty and was sentenced to "Suspension from rank, command, and duty with forfeiture of all pay and allowances for five years." Mitchell resigned from the Army on February 1, 1926. He remained a public voice for air power until his death on February 19, 1936. In 2003, Congress voted to posthumously commission William L. Mitchell as a major general in the Army.

Identifier

NASM.1992.0013

Creator

Webb, William

Date

1925-1926

Provenance

Mrs. William Webb, Gift, 1991, NASM.1992.0013

Extent

.51 Cubic feet (1 flatbox)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection was created by William Webb, a member of Colonel William L. "Billy" Mitchell's the defense team for his 1925 court-martial. The collection consists of two scrapbooks containingcontain photographs of Mitchell, Mitchell's family, the defense team, and witnesses; newspaper articles on the trial; and courtroom sketches.

Arrangement note

The collection consists of one flatbox containing two scrapbooks; the contents were arranged by the donor.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

William Mitchell Trial Scrapbooks, Acc. 1992.0013, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Bombing, Aerial
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Air pilots
Aeronautics
Aeronautics, Military
Air defenses -- United States

Type

Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Clippings

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