With these, Mitchell directs his aircraft to fly at 1,500 ft. and proves he can sink the ex-German World War I battleship Ostfriesland, previously considered unsinkable.

A high-profile air disaster occurs in which his close friend Zachary Lansdowne (Jack Lord) is killed in the crash of the dirigible USS Shenandoah.

Mitchell is outraged by the tragedy and calls a press conference in which he harshly accuses the Army and Navy of criminal negligence and almost treasonable disregard of the air service.

He asks who preferred the charges against Mitchell, and receiving no clear answer he demands the appearance as a witness of President Calvin Coolidge as commander of all armed forces.

The court adjourns to consider the request.. Mitchell refuses to sign a paper Reid has presented him in which he withdraws his criticisms in return for saving his career as an Army officer.

Under the direction of Otto Preminger, the first 10 days of principal photography took place on location in Washington, D.C. in the original sites involved in the story.

[3] The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell had its national premiere in New York City on December 22, 1955, as the main feature along with the short 24 Hour Alert.