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Lt. Gen. Jimmy H. Doolittle
December 14, 1896 - September 27, 1993
December 14, 1896 - September 27, 1993
James Doolittle was born in Alameda, CA, and attended the University of California where he studied engineering. He joined the Army in 1917, and in 1920, James was posted to the Air Corps where his engineering background helped him to rise quickly through the ranks. In 1922, James made the first air crossing of the United States in under twenty-four hours. He was next assigned to various governmental aviation advisory boards. Sponsored by the Guggenheim Fund, James made the world's first totally blind flight on September 24, 1929. Much of the instrumentation for this flight had been developed by Doolittle himself.
James retired from the Army and joined the Shell Oil Company in the early 1930's. His duties included aiding in the development of new aviation fuels and promotional sales tours of North and South America. During this time, James set many speed records, and won many important races. His most notable wins were the Schneider in 1925, the Bendix in 1931, and the Thompson in 1932.
Doolittle returned to military aviation in 1940. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the conception, organization, and training of personnel for the B-25 Tokyo raid in April 1942. Seemingly against the laws of physics, Doolittle led a flight of bombers off the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet, in a sneak attack against mainland Japan. The attack would help swing the course of the war in favor of America. President Roosevelt referred to the raid as having been launched from an undisclosed base called "Shangri-La." This brilliant raid caused shocked Japanese to pull back front line air squadrons to protect the homeland, which weakened their offensive capabilities when they could least afford it. The raid also served as a huge moral boost for America, which was still reeling from the embarrassment of Pearl Harbor.
The success of this air raid earned Doolittle his general's star, and command of the 12th Air Force in North Africa. From 1944 to 1945, Gen. Doolittle would command the mighty Eighth Air Force in England.
James retired from the Army and joined the Shell Oil Company in the early 1930's. His duties included aiding in the development of new aviation fuels and promotional sales tours of North and South America. During this time, James set many speed records, and won many important races. His most notable wins were the Schneider in 1925, the Bendix in 1931, and the Thompson in 1932.
Doolittle returned to military aviation in 1940. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the conception, organization, and training of personnel for the B-25 Tokyo raid in April 1942. Seemingly against the laws of physics, Doolittle led a flight of bombers off the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet, in a sneak attack against mainland Japan. The attack would help swing the course of the war in favor of America. President Roosevelt referred to the raid as having been launched from an undisclosed base called "Shangri-La." This brilliant raid caused shocked Japanese to pull back front line air squadrons to protect the homeland, which weakened their offensive capabilities when they could least afford it. The raid also served as a huge moral boost for America, which was still reeling from the embarrassment of Pearl Harbor.
The success of this air raid earned Doolittle his general's star, and command of the 12th Air Force in North Africa. From 1944 to 1945, Gen. Doolittle would command the mighty Eighth Air Force in England.