 In November 1934 , Walker , now a student at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth , testified with Robert Olds , Claire Chennault , Donald Wilson , Harold George and Robert Webster on the military aspects of aviation before the Howell Commission on Federal Aviation . All were current or former instructors at the Air Corps Tactical School , and all except Chennault were part of the Bomber Mafia . They argued for an independent air force , in contradiction to Army doctrine . Walker told the commission : " unless we create an adequate and separate Air Force , this next war ' will begin in the air and end in the mud ' -in the mud and debris of the demolished industries that have brought us to our knees . " They were unable to persuade the commission to recommend an independent air force , although it did agree that the Air Corps should be granted greater autonomy within the Army . The commission concluded that " there is ample reason to believe that aircraft have now passed far beyond their former position as useful auxiliaries ... An adequate striking force for use against objectives both near and remote is a necessity for a modern army " . 
