Many of his classmates became distinguished general officers later: Arthur C. Davis, Francis S. Low, Lynde D. McCormick, Arthur D. Struble, Ralph W. Christie, John L. McCrea, Harvey Overesch, Pedro del Valle, Howard L. Vickery, Richard W. Bates, Henry P. Burnett, Archie F. Howard, DeWitt Peck, Oliver H. Ritchie, James M. Shoemaker, Scott Umsted and Raymond R.

On June 19, 1930, Major Mitchell led a six-plane patrol, which encountered and attacked a large enemy unit of Sandinistas bandits near the town of Jinotega.

[3] After his return to the United States, Mitchell was appointed Aircraft Squadron Commander within East Coast Expeditionary Force stationed in Quantico, Virginia.

He also attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, in June 1932 and subsequently was transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served in Commandant's Department.

[3] Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell was listed as the technical advisor in the opening credits of the 1935 movie Devil Dogs of the Air which starred James Cagney and Pat O'Brien.

[4] Mitchell was subsequently transferred to the Pacific, where he relieved Major General Roy S. Geiger from command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing on April 21, 1943.

During his World War II service, he was also decorated with two Air Medals and made Companion of Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath by New Zealand.

[citation needed] He returned to the United States in August 1945 and was appointed commander of the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.