Beschreibung:

MITCHELL, WILLIAM. Autograph letter BOLDLY SIGNED ("Wm. Mitchell"), to Lester D. Gardner, War Department, Air Service, Washington, D.C., 9 April 1925. 6 pages, small 4to. "THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR AIR POWER AND NATIONAL DEFENSE IS NOT ANY ONE MAN'S GAME..." A lengthy autograph letter of prophetic content. "...Heretofore I have consistently refrained from writing anything in aeronautical magazines because they were controlled by some special factions which did not wholly represent national aeronautics. Either the Army, Navy, Manufacturers or some individuals had a string on things. Your publication [ ] has always been very fair and broad minded on the proposition and you yourself have consistently advocated a sensible air policy. As far as I am concerned whenever I think that our national development can be benefit[t]ed by publicity, I shall write or speak or act according to what I think is best. I am going to help the United Air Force Association in all proper ways. As long as it is developed for the purposes for which it started... "The development of our air power and national defense is not any one man's game, it is not a question of the capitalization of any individual, but it is a question of having the truth told about our actual state of preparedness and the way in which it can be ameliorated. I hope that you will be able to help along the work in the future in the way you have in the past...".