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Crew of 1st Aircraft - Plane # 40-2344 -
Crew from 34th Squadron - (Bail Out)
Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle's bomber was the first over Japan and the first
to drop its bomb load. The four incendiaries fell at 12:30 p.m. (Tokyo time) to incinerate a large factory. Doolittle then
flew west to reach the coast of China after dark. By 9:30 fuel was low and unable to find an airfield in the heavy fog, Doolittle
ordered his crew to bail out among the mountains of China. He then followed them into the night, his B-25 crashing on a nearby
mountainside. The only injury sustained by any of the crew was a sprained ankle. Local Chinese escorted the Americans to Chuchow
from where they eventually returned home safely.
Pilot Lt. Col. J.H. Doolittle
Co-Pilot Lt. R.E. Cole
Navigator Lt. H.A. Potter
Bombardier SSgt. F.A. Braemer
Engineer Gunner SSgt. P.J. Leonard
Crew of 2nd Aircraft - Plane # 40-2292 -
Crew from 37th Squadron, 17th Group -
(Crash landing - China)
Lieutenant
Hoover lifted off five minutes behind Jimmy Doolittle and caught up to the lead aircraft en route to Japan. His B-25 followed
Doolittle's until it reached the shoreline, at which time Hoover veered off to bomb his own targets, two factory buildings
and storehouses. He then trailed Doolittle most of the way to China where he managed to make a wheels-up crash-landing in
a soft rice paddy. The crew was uninjured and walked for three days before friendly local guerilla fighters found them. On
April 22 they went by boat to Sungyao, then traveled by train and by foot to arrive in Chunking on May 14.
Pilot Lt. T. Hoover
Co-Pilot Lt. W.N. Fitzhugh
Navigator Lt. C.R. Wildner
Bombardier Lt. R.E. Miller
Engineer Gunner SSgt. D.V. Radney
Crew of 3rd Aircraft - Plane # 40-2270 -
Crew from 95th Squadron, 17th Group - (Bail Out)
Lieutenant Gray flew
his B25 through antiaircraft fire to drop his bombs on industrial areas of Tokyo and straffe a military barracks before flying
on to China. He ordered his crew to bail out when fuel ran out. During evacuation of the airplane Gunner Leland Faktor became
the first casualty of the raid. Gray's navigator injured a leg upon landing and his copilot cut a hand while attempting to
make a water bag out of his parachute's rubber cushion. The four survivors were assisted by local Chinese in reaching Chuhsien.
The crew remained in the theater to conduct bombing missions. Robert Gray Field at Fort Hood, TX is named for the pilot of
this B25 who was later killed in action.
Pilot Lt. R.M. Gray
Co-Pilot Lt. Jacob E. Manch
Navigator Lt. C.J. Ozuk
Bombardier Sgt. A.E. Jones
Engineer Gunner Cpl. L.D. Faktor
Sorry No Photo
Crew of 4th Aircraft - Plane # 40-2282 -
Crew from 95th Squadron, 17th Group - (Bail Out)
Shortly after takeoff
Lieutenant Holstrom's rear gunner advised that the turret would not function, leaving the bomber protected only by a single
.30-caliber nose-gun. This became critical as the bomber approached land just south of Tokyo and was jumped by four Japanese
fighter planes. Holstrom ordered his bombs salvoed into Tokyo Bay before racing on to China. His crew bailed out over land
when their fuel was expended. The crewmembers, with the exception of Lt. McCool, remained in Indo-China to conduct missions
until late 1943, Holstrom commanding the 11th Bombardment Squadron. Lieutenant McCool went on to fly missions in the European
Theater.
Pilot Lt. E.W. Holstrom
Co-Pilot Lt. L.N. Youngblood
Navigator Lt. H.C. McCool
Bombardier Sgt. R.J. Stephens
Engineer Gunner Cpl. B.M. Jordan
Crew of 5th Aircraft - Plane # 40-2283 -
Crew from 95th Squadron, 17th Group - (Bail Out)
Captain Jones took off
safely despite a leak in the bomb bay gas tank and proceeded to Tokyo. His bombs scored direct hits on a power station, oil
tanks and a large manufacturing plant. Continuing on to China, he flew on instruments until he estimated he was in the vicinity
of Chuhsien. His entire crew bailed out without injury and was the first of the raiders to reach Chuhsien. Two of the crew
remained in Indo-China while Captain Jones and Lieutenant Truelove went on to fly in Europe. Though all five members of the
crew survived the Tokyo raid, two were killed in action before the war ended and Captain Jones spent time in a German POW
camp.
Pilot Capt. D.M. Jones
Co-Pilot Lt. R.R. Wilder
Navigator Lt. E.F. McGurl
Bombardier Lt. D.V. Truelove
Engineer Gunner Sgt. J.W. Manske
Crew of 6th Aircraft - Plane # 40-2298 -
Crew from 95th Squadron, 17th Group -
(Bail Out - POW Prisoners)
Lieutenant
Hallmark dropped his bombs on a steel mill north of Tokyo but not no damage assessment could be made until after the war when
the one surviving crewman was repatriated. The two enlisted members of the crew drowned when the pilot ditched his bomber
in the ocean just off the coast of China after fuel ran out. Lt. Hallmark was slightly injured but swam to shore to meet up
with the other two survivors. The following day they buried the bodies of Dieter and Fitzmaurice and then tried to reach safety
with the help of friendly local Chinese. All three men were captured and interred as POWs. Of the 5-man crew, only Lt. Nielsen
survived the war, the highest casualty rate of the raid.
Pilot Lt. D.E. Hallmark
Co-Pilot Lt. R.J. Meder
Navigator Lt. C.J. Nielsen
Bombardier Sgt. W.J. Dieter
Engineer Gunner Cpl. D.E. Fitzmaurice
Crew of 7th Aircraft - Plane # 40-2261 -
Crew from 95th Squadron, 17th Group -
(Crash landing - China coast)
Ted
Lawson and his crew successfully dropped their bombs on industrial factories in downtown Tokyo before withdrawing to fly on
to China. Lawson was forced to ditch in the water just off the coastline and was severely injured in the crash. Only the aircraft
gunner was uninjured and Lt. McClure had to remain hospitalized until 1943. The injuries of the crew were treated by Doc White
who got himself included in the raid as a gunner on the 15th aircraft. He had to amputate Lawson's leg in the field before
either man could join the raiders at Chuhsien. Upon his return home Lawson authored the first story of the raid in the book
Thirty Seconds over Tokyo.
Pilot Lt. T.W. Lawson
Co-Pilot Lt. D. Davenport
Navigator Lt. C.L. McClure
Bombardier Lt. R.S. Clever
Engineer Gunner Sgt. D.J. Thatcher
Crew of 8th Aircraft Plane # 40-2244 - Crew from 95th Squadron, 17th Group - (Landed and Interned in Russia)
Captain
York's B25 had suffered engine problems prior to the loading of the aircraft on the Hornet, and the flight to Japan compounded
this. Despite heavy fuel consumption by both engines, York continued on course to drop his bombs on their assigned targets.
Throughout the run the aircraft was defenseless with a top turret that failed to work. Without enough fuel to reach China,
Cpt. York elected to fly the shorter distance to Russia where he landed at a field near Vladivostok in hopes of refueling
to reach China. Instead, the still neutral Soviets confiscated the bomber and interred the crew for thirteen months. The crew
returned home in May 1943 after escaping into Persia.
Pilot Capt. E.J. York
Co-Pilot Lt. R.G. Emmens
Navigator Lt. N.A. Herndon
Bombardier SSgt. T.H. Laban
Engineer Gunner Sgt. D.W. Pohl
Crew of 9th Aircraft Plane # 40-2303 -
Crew from 34th Squadron, 17th Group -
(Bail Out)
Lieutenant Watson
and his crew conducted a highly effective bombing of the Tokyo Gas and Electric Company on the shore of Tokyo Bay before flying
on to China. Arriving over land after dark and in a heavy rain, Watson ordered his crew to bail out 100 miles south of Pyong
Lake. Lieutenant Watson was the only member of the crew injured, and was carried to Hengyang in a porter by friendly Chinese.
He was returned home where he remained hospitalized at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. until the summer of 1944.
Sgt. Bissell returned home to take pilot training and earn his wings and a commission in 1943. S/Sgt Scott also later earned
a commission.
Pilot Lt. H.F. Watson
Co-Pilot Lt. J.M. Parker Jr.
Navigator Lt. T.C. Griffin
Bombardier Sgt. W.M. Bissell
Engineer Gunner Tsgt. E.V. Scott
Crew of 10th Aircraft Plane # 40-2250 -
Crew from 89th Reconnaissance Squadron -
(Bail Out)
This aircraft
originally intended to take off from the Hornet two days after leaving California to test the bomber's ability to safely lift
off. That mission was cancelled and Joyce and crew joined the raid to bomb the Japan Special Steel Company and other targets.
The mission was highly successful despite heavy AA fire and an attack by nine enemy fighters. It was the only plane to suffer
any major damage over Japan (an 8" hole in the fuselage), but continued on to China where the crew safely bailed out. Local
Chinese assisted the crew in reaching Chuhsien in only four days and the entire crew remained in Indo-China to conduct missions
well into 1943.
Pilot Lt. R.O. Joyce
Co-Pilot Lt. J.R. Stork
Navigator Bombardier Lt. H.E. Crouch
Engineer Gunner Sgt. G.E. Larkin Jr.
Gunner SSgt. E.W. Horton Jr.
Crew of 11th Aircraft Plane # 40-2249 -
Crew from 89th Reconnaissance Squadron -
(Bail Out)
Upon reaching
Japan Captain Greening's bomber inadvertently flew over an active enemy air base, and ten minutes later came under attack
from four fighters. The gunner believed he shot down one of the enemy fighters and damaged another before the B25 reached
its targets to bomb a large oil refinery and storage area. The crew also fired on three enemy patrol boats at the mouth of
Tokyo Harbor before heading west to China. The crew bailed out 200 miles inland from the coast. Lt. Reedy broke his kneecap
and suffered a scalp wound and Sergeant Gardner sprained both ankles. The entire crew made it safely to Chuhsien where the
two men received treatment.
Pilot Capt. C.R. Greening
Co-Pilot Lt. K.E. Reddy
Navigator Lt. F.A. Kappeler
Bombardier SSgt. W.L. Birch
Engineer Gunner Sgt. M.J. Gardner
Crew of 12th Aircraft Plane # 40-2278 -
Crew from 37th Squadron, 17th Group - (Bail Out)
Lieutenant Bower and
crew successfully bombed the Ogura refinery, two factories and a large warehouse along the docks at Yokohama. This they accomplished
despite two enemy fighters that trailed them inland, and a series of barrage balloons over their target. On their flight to
reach China flew over a Japanese weather boat. They strafed and sank it before flying on to bail out over China Sergeant Duquette
broke his foot when he parachuted to the ground and was transported in a sedan carried by local Chinese as the entire crew
traveled to join up with Lieutenant Joyce's crew from the 10th aircraft. Both crews reached Chuhsien four days later.
Pilot
Lt. W.M. Bower
Co-Pilot Lt. T. Blanton
Navigator Lt. W.R. Pound Jr.
Bombardier TSgt. W.J. Bither
Engineer Gunner SSgt. O.A. Duquette
Crew of 13th Aircraft Plane # 40-2247 -
Crew from 37th Squadron, 17th Group - (Bail Out)
Despite heavy anti-aircraft
fire Lieutenant McElroy and crew attacked the Yokosuka Naval Base to bomb enemy shipping and supplies. One Japanese ship took
a direct hit and was seen to fall over on its side, and a second was sheathed in flames when the B25 continued west towards
China. The crew successfully bailed out over land and the only injury was a wrenched knee suffered by Sergeant Williams. The
crew arrived at Chuhshei three days later thanks to help from local friendly Chinese. The entire crew remained in Indo-China
to fly missions for more than a year, and all five crew members survived the war despite an enviable record of combat missions.
Pilot
Lt. E.E. McElroy
Co-Pilot Lt. R.A. Knobloch
Navigator Lt. C.J. Campbell
Bombardier Sgt. R.C. Bourgeois
Engineer Gunner Sgt. A.R. Williams
Crew of 14th Aircraft Plane # 40-2297 -
Crew from 89th Reconnaissance Squadron-(Bail Out)
Major Hilger observed
a Japanese patrol plane within hours of his takeoff, but the enemy apparently never saw the incoming bomber. The B25 continued
west without incident to drop bombs on a military barracks at Nagoya Castle and the Mitsubishi Aircraft Plant south of Nagoya.
The effectiveness of their aim was evident as the airplane continued westward. More than 30 miles from one of their targets,
they could still see a plume of smoke rising a mile into the sky. The crew safely bailed out of their bomber inside China,
and were able to reach Chuhsien within two days. Part of the crew remained in Indo-China and others went on to serve in Europe.
Pilot
Major J.A. Hilger
Co-Pilot Lt. J.A. Sims
Navigator Bombardier Lt. J.H. Macia Jr.
Radio Gunner SSgt E.V. Bain
Engineer Gunner SSgt. J. Eierman
Crew of 15th Aircraft - Plane # 40-2267 -
Crew from 34th Squadron, 17th Group-
(Crash Landing - Ditched off China
Coast)
Lieutenant Smith and his crew were assigned to bomb targets in Kobe, southwest of Tokyo. They successfully dropped
their payload on a large aircraft factory as well as around the dock yards, before flying on towards China. Smith decided
to ditch his bomber in the waters near a small island near Sangchow. All crew members safely exited the aircraft before it
sank, and paddled to shore in a life raft. For days the Japanese hunted the area for the American raiders, but evaded them
in a Chinese junk. En route to Chuchow Smith learned of Ted Lawson's serious injuries and the evaders traveled on to meet
up with him so Lieutenant White could render medical aid.
Pilot Lt. D.G. Smith
Co-Pilot Lt. G.P. Williams
Navigator Bombardier Lt. H.A. Sessler
Flight Surgeon Lt. T.R. White M.D.
Engineer Gunner Sgt. E.J. Saylor
Crew of 16th Aircraft Plane # 40-2268 -
Crew from 89th Reconnaissance Squadron -
(Crash Landing - China Coast
- Japanese POW's)
The last B25 left the deck of the Hornet 59 minutes after Doolittle, facing the prospect of a forewarned
Japanese defense. During takeoff a sailor slipped and fell into the propeller of one engine and lost an arm. The ill-fated
crew successfully bombed oil storage tanks and an aircraft factory despite enemy fighter attacks, then headed on to China.
Due to low fuel, Lieutenant Farrow instructed his crew to bail out even though he knew they were close to enemy-held Nangchang
city. Within an hour Lt. Barr was captured and before noon all five crewmen became Prisoners of War.
Pilot
Lt. W.G. Farrow
Co-Pilot Lt. R.L. Hite
Navigator Lt. G. Barr
Bombardier Cpl. J. DeShazer
Engineer Gunner Sgt. H.A. Spatz
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