Sent to West Virginia during the violent conflict between miners and coal-company forces, Mitchell announced that Army bombers alone could end what he called the Mingo War. In practice, company-hired aircraft dropped explosives, three Army aircrew died in crashes, and roughly 2,000 Army troops were needed to disperse the opposing force and prompt miners to go home or surrender. Mitchell nevertheless cited the episode as evidence for air power's civil-service potential. His public claim outran the operation's actual result.
Notable Point · 1:14:04-1:15:30
The Mingo War exposed another air-power overclaim
Mitchell claimed Army bombers could end West Virginia's mining conflict, but Army aircraft failed to end it and ground troops ultimately dispersed the armed forces.