Ohio's Aviation Heritage Tour: Doolittle Tokyo Raiders

DAYTON, OH, UNITED STATES

12.05.2013

Audio by NMUSAF PA 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Go through the Holocaust Exhibit and into the World War II Gallery and to the nose of the B-25 Mitchell.

On April 18, 1942, 80 men achieved the unimaginable when they took off from the aircraft carrier the USS Hornet on a top secret mission to bomb Tokyo, Japan. Led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, these men came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. Although the Tokyo Raid caused only minor damage, it forced the Japanese to recall combat forces for home defense, raised fears among the Japanese civilians, and boosted morale among Americans and our Allies abroad.

Several Raiders had ties to Ohio, including Colonel Richard Cole, co-pilot of Crew #1, who was born in Dayton; First Lieutenant Robert Meder, the co-pilot of Crew #6, who was born in Cleveland; Major Thomas Griffin, the navigator for Crew #9, who lived in Cincinnati for many years; Colonel William Bower, the pilot of Crew #12, who was born in Ravenna; and Captain George Barr, the navigator for Crew #16, who lived in Dayton.

• Date Taken: 12.05.2013
• Date Posted: 07.30.2015 11:58
• Category: Recording
• Audio ID: 41631
• Filename: 1507/DOD_102629280.mp3
• Length: 00:01:21
• Album: Ohio's Aviation Heritage Tour
• Track #: 12
• Location: DAYTON, OH, US