The Doolittle Raiders

In April 1942, 80 Doolittle Raiders carried out one of the most courageous and heart-stirring military operations in this nation’s history.  the mere mention of their unit’s name, in those years, would bring tears to the eyes of grateful Americans.

After Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, with the United States reeling and wounded, something dramatic was needed to turn the war effort around.  Even though there were no friendly airfields close enough to Japan for the United States to launch a retaliation, a daring plan was devised.  Sixteen B-25s were modified so that they could take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier.  Sending such big, heavy bombers from a carrier had never been tried before.

Col. James Doolittle flew the lead of 16 five man crews of the USS Hornet.  They knew they would not be able to return to the carrier.  They would have to hit Japan and then hope to make it to China for a safe landing.

On the day of the raid, the Japanese military caught wind of the plan. The Raiders were told that they would have to take off from much farther out in the Pacific Ocean than they had counted on.  Because of this they would not have enough fuel to make it to safety.  They went anyway.

Thy bombed Tokyo and flew as far as they could.  four planes crash landed.  11 crews bailed out, three Raiders died.  Eight more were captured and three were executed.  Another died of starvation in a Japanese prison camp.  One crew made it to Russia.

The Doolittle raiders sent a message from the United states to it’s enemies and to the rest of the world.  We will fight.  No matter what it takes, we will win.  Of the 80 Raiders, 62 survived the war.  They were celebrated as national heroes.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced a motion picture based on the raid.  ‘Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo’ stared Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson.  It was a patriotic, emotional box office hit.

Beginning 1946, the surviving Raiders held a reunion each April to commemorate the mission in a different city each year.  In 1959, Tucson Arizona presented the Doolittle Raiders with a set of 80 silver goblets engraved with the name of each Raider.

Every year the wooden display case bearing all 80 goblets is transported to the reunion city.  Each time a Raider passes away, his goblet is turned upside down at the next reunion.

Jimmy Doolittle was born 1896.

In addition to the goblets a special bottle of 1896 Hennessy cognac.  The plan was at the point of the last two surviving Raiders, the bottle would be opened for a toast to their comrades who preceded them in death.

In February 2013, Tom Griffin passed away at age 96.  After bailing out of his plane over a mountainous Chinese forest, he became ill with malaria and almost died.  When he recovered, he was sent to Europe to fly more combat missions.  He was shot down, captured and spent 22 months in a German prisoner of war camp.

There are four Raiders remaining’ Dick Cole who was Doolittles, co-pilot on the Tokyo raid, Robert Hite, Edward Saylor and David Thatcher.  All are in their 90’s.  Being to few to continue the events, The Fort Walton Beach marked the end of the reunions.  It was a six day celebration including luncheons, dinner and a parade.

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