MSs United States air force pioneer General BILLY MITCHELL (retired) speaking prophetically to the camera about the importance of military aviation: "Without air power, a nation is lost." Montage of government aviation development tests being conducted in Virginia (wind tunnel tests, models, wind shear, aerodynamics). TLSs experimental Waterman Aerobile (Arrowbile) driving along city streets, taking off, in flight. TLS hybrid seaplane driving onto dock. TLS gyroplane landing in field. Newsreel of IGOR SIKORSKY introducing his latest invention, the four-engine propeller passenger Pan American Clipper. Great air to air shot of Clipper flying over Golden Gate Bridge (still under construction at the time). MSs Caucasian people at leisure aboard a commercial plane (playing cards, reading, etc). TLSs Douglas luxury airplane landing.
MS Brig. General Billy Mitchell getting out of pilot seat. MS Brig. General Benjamin Foulois shaking hands with airmen outside command bunker. MS Col. Thomas De Witt Milling, head of Air Service Units, 1st Army.
MS/CUs Billy Mitchell in uniform & in civvies.
MSs Billy Mitchell at his court martial hearing.
MS American aviators walking to cam, stopping to salute. MS Billy Mitchell pinning medal on fellow aviator.
Billy Mitchell flies a reconnaissance mission over enemy lines. Various shot of lone plane flying. TLS German soldiers (army, infantry) marching. Mitchell s plane lands. Mitchell in cockpit.
CUs Billy Mitchell in uniform.
TLSs American warships (navy, naval, vessels) sailing, a zeppelin (dirigible) accompanying. CU of Billy Mitchell. MS U.S. President Warren G Harding waving hat & meeting with U.S. Navy officers on ship.
Billy Mitchell checking planes. MSs two-ton bombs being attached to biplanes.
TLSs another aviation experiment, artillery battery shoots at target attached to a biplane flown by Billy Mitchell; MS Billy showing off the virtually unscathed target. Officers walk towards camera. Billy Mitchell at a desk.
Court martial of Billy Mitchell. MSs Billy Mitchell and his wife arriving at courthouse. MSs Willaim Simms arriving at courthouse; INT shots courtroom, trial in progress; MS presiding military brass exiting courthouse, among them General Douglas MacArthur.
MSs Billy Mitchell, wife and baby standing outside suburban home, posing.
MS Billy Mitchell (wearing a fur coat, probably racoon) speaking about the use of foreign air power (real audio). As conceded by every first calss power in the world, air power will determine the next war. Each nation is organized now, to mass air power at the beginning of a contest. Instead of the armies and navies being the objects of the attack of air power, they will go directly to the vital centers. Our future in this country depends on air power.
Billy Mitchell in uniform sitting in an arm chair. Billy Mitchell in civilain suit, talking to camera.
MS Billy Mitchell sitting on snowy lawn, petting dog.
