So what actually happened?
Apparently the bomb story isn't true,(he -was- allowed heavier bombs, and so, of course, was not demoted for their use , but for some other, unmentioned, reason), he was married, not a bachelor as portrayed, and his main detractor in the movie is a fictional general. So what else? Why didn't Mitchell just resign in the first place, and fight this battle as a wealthy civilian, as a politician, and actually get something done? His high-handed mixed emotions about loyalty to the Army while attacking their policies and high-ranking generals doesn't sit right; there's got to be more to it. And his predictions: Are there any records to corroberate them? Did he really predict that Japan would attack Pearl Harbor twenty years before the actual event? Amazing if true, really stupid if not. How about an explanation: Did he merely realize the ease with which the attack could be carried out, and then deduce that therefore it -would- be done? Mitchell placed great hope in (later to be) President Roosevelt to strengthen air support, but Roosevelt made sure that Pearl Harbor -would- be attacked. Mitchell's predictions are a big maybe, but his mistakes are for sure. If the bulk of the motivations claimed for Mitchell are true, I'd have to say that he was as stupid about how to get things done as he was smart about aviation.
share