William "Billy" Mitchell  Aviator / Soldier / World War I Figure
Born: 29 December 1879 Died: 19 February 1936 Birthplace: Nice,
France Best known as: "Father of the U.S. Air Force"  Considered
the father of the United States Air Force, William "Billy"
Mitchell was famous for his visionary ideas on military strategy
and his impolitic actions that led to a demotion and eventual
court-martial. Mitchell first volunteered for military duty in
1898 and served in Cuba, in the Philippines and along the
Mexican border. In 1915 he left the General Staff for the
aviation section of the Army Signal Corps and was sent to
Virginia, where he learned to fly by 1916. When the U.S. entered
World War I in 1917, Mitchell became the air officer for the
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) led by "Black Jack"
Pershing. Mitchell served with distinction during the war and
proved the importance of air support of ground troops, as well
as the strategic value of air raids across enemy lines. He
returned to the U.S. a brigadier general