General Mitchell is associated with which strategy in military thought?

General Billy Mitchell is a pivotal figure in military aviation history, specifically recognized for his advocacy of strategic bombardment as a method of modern warfare. He championed the notion that air power could play a decisive role in achieving military objectives by targeting not just the enemy's military forces, but also the industrial infrastructure that supported those forces. This strategy emphasizes the importance of disrupting the enemy's capacity to wage war by attacking their factories, supply lines, and logistical channels.

His ideas laid the groundwork for the concept of strategic bombing that became prevalent in World War II, where the bombing of cities and industrial targets was used to undermine the enemy's ability to sustain military operations. By focusing on war-making infrastructure rather than just immediate military targets, Mitchell influenced air power doctrine and highlighted the potential of aircraft as a critical element in military strategy.

This understanding also reflects the evolution of air campaigns, distinguishing them from purely defensive strategies or those that only focus on gaining air superiority. Therefore, the recognition of Mitchell's association with strategic bombardment through air power is not just historical; it underlines a significant shift in how military leaders began to conceptualize and utilize air force capabilities in warfare.