Whose vision of an independent air force was ridiculed in the 1920s?

Billy Mitchell is recognized for his pioneering vision of an independent air force during the 1920s. He was a prominent advocate for the development and strategic use of aviation in military operations, believing that air power should play a central role in national defense. Mitchell's outspoken views and bold predictions about the future of air warfare were often met with skepticism and ridicule from military leaders of his time, who were still firmly rooted in traditional ground and naval power doctrines. His controversial stance culminated in a famous demonstration in which he sank decommissioned ships with aerial bombardments, underscoring the potential of air power. Despite being initially dismissed, Mitchell's ideas eventually laid the groundwork for the establishment of the United States Air Force as an independent branch of the military in 1947.