God Bless 'em all! That will be quite a party when two 80 yr olds share that bottle of brandy!
Steve
Steve
April 18, 1942: Over Tokyo!
- Thread starter Texas Star
- Start date
Beaver
Member
My father was a B-29 pilot who spoke highly of Doolittle. My father didn't speak highly of hardly anybody. Took some serious gonad to fly off that speck of a deck, not knowing if it was your last take-off. It was for several. I stand and salute those who flew on that raid. A huge moral victory, early in the war.
cudamank
Member
They had 1 or 2 meetings with the survivors here in Fresno, Calif, probably like 10yrs ago. They brought planes from around the US and flew them I believe up to Sacramento and back. Was cool to watch them fly overhead. Ray Appleton, local talk show host was very envolved if I remember right.
7.62foryou
Member
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Spotteddog, I was born in the Peoples Socialist Republic of MA. I now live the Demacratic Peoples Socialist State of RI. No offence but I wouldn't go to CA if someone paid my way. I get all the lib madness I need right here. Thanks for the compliment, to be mentioned in the same sentance as Doc Savage is an honor I do not warrent, but thank you just the same. You are right on there sir! I am what I am today because I had two of the finest parents anyone could hope for. I'm not a tenth the man my father was but I try my best to emulate him when I can find the strengh.
rburg
Member
OK, you guys know so much. What happened to the hanger Doolittle had at Wright-Patterson?
I only ask because I know, and probably no one else here has a clue!
Hint, its trusses are still in use.
arkypete
Member
My father was the navagator on plane # !!!. His one comment to me was after looking out the window he saw a destroyer 1,000 yards off and decided that when his plane goes in the drink he'd swim over to the tin can. His aircraft had problems. The turret locked up, one engine leaked oil and gas.
He spent is 23rd-24th birth day sitting on a mountain top in China wet trying to start a fire with $5.00 and $10.00 bills.
If you knew my father you'd know Dad was cold and wet, since he'd just as soon burn his shirt rather then burn money.
All the officers got Distinguished Flying Crosses and some Chinese medals.
Dad went on to serve in Europe and finished the war there.
Jim
Dad retired from the Air Force in 1967
He spent is 23rd-24th birth day sitting on a mountain top in China wet trying to start a fire with $5.00 and $10.00 bills.
If you knew my father you'd know Dad was cold and wet, since he'd just as soon burn his shirt rather then burn money.
All the officers got Distinguished Flying Crosses and some Chinese medals.
Dad went on to serve in Europe and finished the war there.
Jim
Dad retired from the Air Force in 1967
Oscar Zulu
Member
Jimmy Doolittle also performed the first outside loop and the first all instrument take off and landing, a whole flight "under the hood". He was working with the Sperry co. on flight instruments. Later he helped shell oil devolop 115/145 octane av-gas, without wich the carrier deck would probably have been to short for the B-25. This helped all U.S. planes in all theaters throughout the war. And I think his Doctorate was the first one awarded in the feild at MIT and he had to write some of the curriculum!
On a personal note, in 1977 (I think) I got to go pheasant hunting with General Doolittle and his son John. The B-1 program had just been cancled by Carter and Jimmy was pissed. He took me aside and put his finger on the hood of a truck and said"This is a unicycle" adding a finger he said "This is a bycicle" and a third "this is a trycicle, which is more stable?" The tricicle I said. He said "Now substitute my fingers for our nuclear weapons delivery systems, ICBMs, submarine launced missle and strategic bombers" wiggling each in turn. We need each for a stable and redundant national defence".So I got to disscuss global thermonuclear strategy with Jimmy Doolittle over a coors on the hood of a pick-up.Pretty heavy stuff for a twelve year old!
That was a day I'll never forget. He was a little tiny man, very nice, and commanded a lot of respect. And even awe from a certain twelve rear old.
OZ
On a personal note, in 1977 (I think) I got to go pheasant hunting with General Doolittle and his son John. The B-1 program had just been cancled by Carter and Jimmy was pissed. He took me aside and put his finger on the hood of a truck and said"This is a unicycle" adding a finger he said "This is a bycicle" and a third "this is a trycicle, which is more stable?" The tricicle I said. He said "Now substitute my fingers for our nuclear weapons delivery systems, ICBMs, submarine launced missle and strategic bombers" wiggling each in turn. We need each for a stable and redundant national defence".So I got to disscuss global thermonuclear strategy with Jimmy Doolittle over a coors on the hood of a pick-up.Pretty heavy stuff for a twelve year old!
That was a day I'll never forget. He was a little tiny man, very nice, and commanded a lot of respect. And even awe from a certain twelve rear old.
OZ
armenius
US Veteran
I had the good fortune to be in the Air Force Association when we sponsored the Doolittle Raiders Reunion in Charleston,SC.Over a couple of days I was able to mix with them all and it was a wonderful experience.The General and all the others were so down to earth and friendly it was as if I had known them forever.Maybe short in stature,but I knew I was in the company of Giants.Their like may never come this way again.
About 10 years ago my son-in-law was commissioned as an air force 2nd Lt at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. I had the incredible honor of talking to the bombardier on Gen Dolittle's B-26 during the Tokyo raid. I do not remember the officer's name but realized I had spoken with a true hero.
Herknav
Member
Thanks for the update. I didn't know they'd moved it. For some reason, that was always my favorite display. I'm glad it's in a venue for a larger audience to see.
arkypete
Member
Has any one read the book 'The First Heros.'?
It's rather good.
Jim
It's rather good.
Jim
35Rem
Member
Thanks for the link with the update. My grandfather was still in training in the Air Corps when the war ended.
I shed a tear looking at the picture of all the goblets turned upside down. Many fallen heros this country may never see the likes of again. They didn't do it for glory or fame. They did it because that was the right thing to do. God Bless them all!
I shed a tear looking at the picture of all the goblets turned upside down. Many fallen heros this country may never see the likes of again. They didn't do it for glory or fame. They did it because that was the right thing to do. God Bless them all!
