Description:

WWII Doolittle Raid
various, various
(12) Doolittle Raiders' Autographs Incl. Doolittle, With Bonus Chaplain "U.S.S. Hornet" Signature, (13) Sigs Total
Archive

A collection of autographs belonging to 12 of the 80 U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted men who participated in the Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942, including those of mission commander James H. Doolittle, as well as other pilots, co-pilots, navigators, flight engineers/gunners, and bombardiers. Also included is the bonus autograph of Rear Admiral Edward Harp, Chaplain aboard the "U.S.S. Hornet," the aircraft carrier from which the Doolittle Raiders departed. Various places, various dates or n.d. The autographs appear on three separate sheets: Doolittle's and Harp's autographs appear on two signed Air Mail Envelopes mounted on decorative sheets, with biographical captions, postmarked July 27, 1953 and August 6, 1953 respectively, sheets 8.5" x 11" overall; and the remaining 11 autographs appear on a souvenir printed copy of John Gillespie Magee, Jr's immortal poem, "High Flight," 7.25" x 10.325." Expected surface wear including light toning, else near fine.

The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, took place on April 18, 1942, when 16 American B-25B Mitchell bombers, each manned with a crew of five servicemen, set off on a harrowing one-way mission to drop bombs on mainland Japan. The planes flew over the island of Honshu, striking targets in Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Osaka, and Kobe. Even though these American strikes caused relatively little damage, the Doolittle Raid proved a huge morale booster since this was the first U.S. retaliatory attack since Pearl Harbor. After their mission fly-by, the planes bailed out in the Soviet Union, China, or in the water. Out of 80 participants, only 3 were immediately killed in action, and 8 were taken as prisoners of war, among whom 3 were later executed by the Japanese.

Featuring the autographs of, in crew order and then in alphabetical order:

Crew 1 (target Tokyo)

- Lt. Richard E. Cole, co-pilot, signed as "RE Cole / Copilot Crew #1." Cole was the last surviving Doolittle Raider, dying at age 103 in 2019.

- Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, mission commander and pilot, signed as "J.H. Doolittle"

Crew 2 (target Tokyo)

- Lt. Travis Hoover, pilot, signed as "Travis Hoover / Pilot, B-25 #2 on / Doolittle Tokyo Raid"

Crew 3 (target Tokyo)

- Lt. Charles J. Ozuk, Jr., navigator, signed as "Charles J. Ozuk Crew 3"

Crew 4 (target Tokyo)

- Lt. Harry C. McCool, navigator, signed as "Harry C. McCool / Nav. Crew #4"

Crew 5 (target Tokyo)

- Capt. David M. Jones, pilot, signed as "Davey Jones / Pilot Crew #5"

Crew 6 (target Tokyo)

- Lt. Chase J. Nielsen, navigator, signed as "Chase J. Nielsen / Navigator Crew #6." Captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war; liberated August 1945.

Crew 7 (target Tokyo)

- Sgt. David J. Thatcher, flight engineer/gunner, signed as "David J. Thatcher / Engineer - Gunner #7 / The 'Ruptured Duck.'"

Crew 9 (target Tokyo)

- Lt. Thomas C. Griffin, navigator, signed as "Tom Griffin / Nav. Dl [?] #9"

Crew 10 (target Tokyo)

- Lt. J. Royden Stork, co-pilot, signed as "J.R. Stork / C.P. #10"

Crew 12 (target Yokohama)

- Lt. William E. Bower, pilot, signed as "Bill Bower / Pilot #12"

Crew 16 (target Nagoya)

- Cpl. Jacob DeShazer, bombardier, signed as "Jacob DeShazer." Captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war; liberated August 1945.

Aboard "U.S.S. Hornet"

- Rear Admiral Edward Harp, Chaplain aboard the "U.S.S. Hornet," signed as "Edward B. Harp Jr." Later served as Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Navy between 1953-1958.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: largest sheet: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: Archive

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