williambillymitchell

The aerial bombing trials of 1923 conducted by General Billy Mitchell (USAAS), which saw the destruction of USS Virginia (BB-13) as a target ship in September 1923. Virginia, commissioned in 1906, was long obsolete and slated for sale and scrapping under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty. Instead of being sold for scrap, she was eliminated from the fleet during the aforementioned bombing trials. Here is footage of Virginia being bombed and ultimately sunk (see beginning at the 10min 58sec mark): YouTube - US National Archives: Aerial Bombing of Ships (1921-1923) - (National Archives Identifier: 24624 - Local Identifier: 111-H-1119)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Virginia_(BB-13)

Thanks for all the information! We'll add information to the description.

This photo was published in the New Britain Herald. July 30, 1923, Page 9 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1923-07-30/ed-... From the caption: "Official Photo, U. S. Army Air Service" "Photo gives splendid indication of the real size of the Barling Bomber, world's largest air plane, soon to take the air at Wilbur Wright Field, Dayton, O. Note the height of the wheels compared with that of General Mitchell. Left to right: Walter H. Barling, designer of the plane, General William Mitchell, assistant chief, Air Service; Major Martin, Major A. W. Robins, Mr. Carisi. Lieutenant Dichman and Lieutenant Blackburn." The Evening Star. August 19, 1923, Page 4 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1923-08-19/ed-... has a description of the aircraft. See also www.earlyaviators.com/eschobe5.htm

This took a full day of research, but I have identified each and given them a Wikidata entry, if they lacked one already: Walter Henry Barling (1890-1965) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107577357 General William Mitchell (1879-1936) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q863201 Major Harold Smith Martin (1892-1961) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107580274 Major Augustine Warner Robins (1882-1940) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4821225 John Carisi (1884-1960) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107577822 Lieutenant Ernest Wyckham Dichman (1892-1955) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107579240 Lieutenant Thomas Welch Blackburn (1892-1964) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107580412

The Washington times., October 19, 1919, FINAL EDITION, Page 13 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1919-10-19/ed-... reports that Guy de Lavergne had recently joined the staff of the French Embassy as Air Attache. books.google.com/books?id=Ok0tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA181&l... indicates that Major Langlois was also with the French Embassy.

We have seen Archie Miller before, e.g., at left in:

At right is en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchell
"William "Billy" Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army general who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force."

Notice that his last name was mis-transcribed.; it should have another "l".

Thanks for referring us to the resources and for pointing out the typo in the name. We'll add and adjust information when we update the description.