| Aviator;
born in Alameda, Calif. Commissioned in the Army Air Corps in 1920, he
pioneered instrument landing techniques as a test pilot during the 1920s.
Doolittle resigned from the regular service in 1930 to join the Shell
Oil Company as an executive. Pursuing his interest in aircraft development,
he set a world speed record in 1932. Recalled to active duty in 1940,
Doolittle led the famous 1942 attack on Tokyo and other Japanese cities
by 16 B-25 bombers flying off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a daring
operation that gave a terrific boost to morale on the home front. He commanded
the 12th Air Force during the North Africa campaign (1942--43), the 15th
Air Force in Italy (1943), and the 8th Air Force during the intensive
bombing offensive against Germany (1944--45). Doolittle returned to Shell
after the war and was a vice-president and director of the company until
his retirement in 1959 |