MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM "BILLY" MITCHELL - DOCUMENT SIGNED 10/1919 CO-SIGNED BY: A. F. FULLER - HFSID 156639

BILLY MITCHELL
Typed DS: "Wm. Mitchell," 1p, 81/2x13. Washington, D.C., 1919 October [no day]. In full: "This agreement made this day of October 1919, by and between the Army and Navy Air Service Association, a copy company duly organized under the laws of the District of Columbia, party of the first part and Horace Green of Washington, D.C., party of the second part, witnesseth: That for and in consideration of the sum of $10.00 and other good and valuable consideration the party of the first part hereby agrees to buy, at its par value, twenty-nine (29) shares of stock in the Air Service Publishing Company, Inc., held by the said Horace Green, at such time as the said party of the second part may desire, providing the said party of the second part shall give sixty (60) days written notice of his desire to sell to the said party of the first part. This might be exercised in case either the trustees of the said Air Service Publishing Company or the said shareholder desires to sever the said shareholder's connection with the Air Service Publishing Company, or at any other time." General Mitchell has signed as an officer of the Army and Navy Air Service Association. ANS: "ACF" in blank area at left by Colonel A.C. Fuller, President, Advisory Board, War Department, Office of the Director of Air Service, Washington. In pencil: "Gen. Mitchell this/is OK in accordance/with the action of the/Bd of Control/ACF. Three file holes in blank left margin, ink stain at mid-center blank right. Clip stains in upper left blank margin. With ANS: "ACF" by Colonel A.L. Fuller as President, Advisory Board, 1p, 8x31/2, to Mitchell in red pencil. In full: "As Vice Prest you were Actg Prest when this was approved. It is OK and it should be signed by the Actg Prest or Secy but Findly is Secy & you better sign as Vice Prest I think." Mitchell, a vocal proponent of supremacy of air power, demonstrated the ability of aerial bombing to sink battleships (1921-1923). In 1925, he was court-martialed and convicted for criticizing the management of the military air service. Mitchell resigned in 1926. Five years after his death, one of his warnings/predictions came true: the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Fine condition.