<text id=00he0404><title>Opportunity for Air Power</title>
<history>US Air Force: Events History</history>
<article><hdr>Opportunity for Air Power</hdr><body>
<p>Mitchell got his chance when some German warships were turned over to the Navy for experimental purposes, with a stipulation that they had to be destroyed before early August 1921. The Navy decided to run its own bombing tests—with the unstated purpose of proving Mitchell wrong—and on 7 February 1921 so notified the Army. The tests were to be under the complete control of the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet. Mitchell agreed to commit the Air Service under those conditions, as a partner in the bombing experiments.
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<p>Navy rules of engagement limited the number of hits allowed and the size and weight of bombs, and retained the right to call off the bombing at any time so that boarding parties could inspect the damage. The target ships were to be anchored in deep water, 75 miles (120 km) at sea off the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and about 100 miles (160 km) airline distance from the Army's bomber base at Langley Field, Virginia.
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<p>Mitchell prodded the Army Ordnance Corps to develop a 2,000-lb (907-kg) bomb for the tests. The biggest weapon then in the arsenal weighed 1,000 lb (454 kg), and Mitchell wanted the larger weapon to take full advantage of the devastating effect of an underwater burst near the hull of a target. The big bombs were to be carried by the relatively new Martin MB-2, standard heavy bomber of the 1921 Air Service.
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<p>Mitchell organized the First Provisional Air Brigade at Langley Field. From Langley's tenant units he drew the 50th and 88th Squadrons, operating DH-4 day bombers and SE-5 pursuits. Up from Kelly Field, Texas, came the 49th and 96th Squadrons flying their MB-2s, and also bringing along their DH-4s and one Handley Page O/400, assigned to the 96th. The 1st and 5th Squadrons deployed from Mitchel Field, NY, with DH-4 day bombers.
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<p>They began streaming in on 6 May 1921, and started a combined training and practice program. They bombed stationary targets, made dummy runs on moving automobiles, dropped live ordnance on the wrecks of the <hi format=ital>Indiana</hi> and her sister ship, the <hi format=ital>Texas</hi>, lying in the waters off Langley.
