Our air force, the keystone of national defense

BRIGADIER GENERAL WM. MITCHELL, the author of this book, enlisted as a private in the Volunteer Infantry at the outbreak of the war with Spain in 1898; and after serving in the ranks for twenty days, he was made an officer at the age of eighteen. He was the youngest officer in the army during the Spanish War. He later served in the
Philippine Insurrection; again in Cuba in 1906 and 1907; and along the Mexican Border. General Mitchell has traveled widely in Asia, India and Europe, studying the military systems in the armies of the various countries. He is a Distinguished graduate of the Army School of the Line, a graduate of the Army Staff College, and he served as a member of our General Staff before the entrance of the United States into the World War. General Mitchell studied Aviation for a great many years; learned to fly at the
first opportunity, and has kept it up ever since. He was the first American officer under German fire in Europe, where he was serving as a military observer when the War opened, and was the first American flying officer to cross the Lines in the European War, on April 22, 1917.