Lt. Col Thomas D. Cole, co-pilot for Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and Crew #1, and Major Thomas C. Griffin, navigator for Crew #9 were visiting the museum for a plaque dedication in honor of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. The plaque was donated by Capt. Scott Shelton, Gwen, and Nevada and Cooper Shelton. The plaque will be on display in the Memorial Courtyard of the National Museum of the Pacific War at a later date and time.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt wanted to strike back against Japan. To do this B-25 bombers would have to take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Something that had never been tried before in US history. Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle’s plan was to 550 miles off the coast of Japan and bomb five major Japanese cities. On April 18, 1942 the USS Hornet carrying the 16 B-25 bombers was spotted by a Japanese patrol 700 miles from Japan. Doolittle ordered to launch immediately, even though they were 150 miles further out than planned. Low on fuel after the raid some parachuted out into Japanese territory; while other crashed landed in Japanese held China. Chinese soldiers helped rescue some the crew members.
While the physical damage wasn't much, the physiological damage was took a heavy toll. Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. You can learn more about the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, and see a B-25 like the ones used in the raid at the National Museum of the Pacific War.
The National Museum of the Pacific War is a Texas Historical Commission property supported, operated, and managed by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation.
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