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[[Image:Doolittle.jpg|thumb|200px|right|James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, General, United States Air Force]]

[[Image:Doolittle.jpg|thumb|200px|right|James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, General, United States Air Force]]

'''General James H. Doolittle''', [[United States Air Force]], was a military officer noted for his record-breaking civilian flights and air racing victories, but is forever linked to one of the most audacious military actions during World War II: the air raid over Japan on April 18, 1942 that bears his name.

'''General James H. Doolittle''' December 14, 1896 – September 27, 1993, [[United States Air Force]], was a military officer noted for his record-breaking civilian flights and air racing victories, but is forever linked to one of the most audacious military actions during World War II: the [[Doolittle air raid]] over Japan on April 18, 1942 that bears his name.

==Early life==

==Early life==

James Harold Doolittle was born in Alameda, [[California]], on December 14, 1896. After graduating from high school in [[Los Angeles]], he received his higher education at the Los Angeles Junior College and the University of California. He enlisted in the Army's Signal Corps Reserve in October 1917, received flight training and was commissioned in March 1918. During the [[World War I|First World War]], Lieutenant Doolittle instructed Air Corps students in aerial gunnery and tactics.

James Harold Doolittle was born in Alameda, [[California]], on December 14, 1896. After graduating from high school in [[Los Angeles]], he received his higher education at the Los Angeles Junior College and the University of California. He enlisted in the Army's Signal Corps Reserve in October 1917, received flight training and was commissioned in March 1918. During the [[World War I|First World War]], Lieutenant Doolittle instructed Air Corps students in aerial gunnery and tactics.

==The Doolittle Raid==

==The Doolittle Raid==

The raid had its roots in a chance observation that it was possible to launch Army twin-engined bombers from an aircraft carrier, making feasible an early air attack on Japan. Appraised of the idea in January 1942, U.S. Fleet commander Admiral [[Ernest J. King]] and Air Forces leader General [[Henry H. Arnold]] greeted it with enthusiasm. Arnold assigned the technically-astute Doolittle to organize and lead a suitable air group. The modern, but relatively well-tested [[B-25 Mitchell|B-25B "Mitchell"]] medium bomber was selected as the delivery vehicle and tests showed that it could fly off a carrier with a useful bomb load and enough fuel to hit Japan and continue on to airfields in [[China]].

The raid had its roots in a chance observation that it was possible to launch Army twin-engined bombers from an aircraft carrier, making feasible an early air attack on Japan. Appraised of the idea in January 1942, U.S. Fleet commander Admiral [[Ernest J. King]] and Air Forces leader General [[Henry H. Arnold]] greeted it with enthusiasm. Arnold assigned the technically-astute Doolittle to organize and lead a suitable air group. The modern, but relatively well-tested [[B-25 Mitchell|B-25B "Mitchell"]] medium bomber was selected as the delivery vehicle and tests showed that it could fly off a carrier with a useful bomb load and enough fuel to hit Japan and continue on to airfields in [[China]].

[[Image:Doolittle1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|April 18, 1942: the Doolittle Raid about to launch from USS ''Hornet''.]]

[[Image:Doolittle1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|April 18, 1942: the Doolittle Raid about to launch from USS ''Hornet''.]]

==After the raid==

==After the raid==

Decorated by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] with the [[Medal of Honor]] and promoted to the rank of Brigadier General after the Japan raid, and later to Lieutenant General, Doolittle commanded the Twelfh and Fifteenth Air Forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theaters in 1942-43. During 1944-45, he led the Eighth Air Force in both the [[Europe]]an and Pacific Theaters. He returned to private industry following World War II and remained an prominent figure in the aeronautics field. In 1985, he was promoted to four-star  general by President [[Ronald Reagan]] while on the Air Force Retired List.<ref>[https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/james-h-doolittle James H. Doolittle]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzo_xa2tBB0 President Reagan Presenting the Fourth Star to General Jimmy Doolittle on June 13, 1985]</ref>

Decorated by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] with the [[Medal of Honor]] and promoted to the rank of Brigadier General after the Japan raid, and later to Lieutenant General, Doolittle commanded the Twelfh and Fifteenth Air Forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theaters in 1942-43. During 1944-45, he led the Eighth Air Force in both the [[Europe]]an and Pacific Theaters. He returned to private industry following World War II and remained an prominent figure in the aeronautics field. In 1985, he was promoted to four-star  general by President [[Ronald Reagan]] while on the Air Force Retired List.<ref>[https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/james-h-doolittle James H. Doolittle]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzo_xa2tBB0 President Reagan Presenting the Fourth Star to General Jimmy Doolittle on June 13, 1985]</ref>

* [[World War II in the Air]]

* [[World War II in the Air]]

==Links==

==External Links==

*[http://www.medalofhonor.com/JimmyDoolittle.htm MedalofHonor.com bio of Doolittle]

*[http://www.medalofhonor.com/JimmyDoolittle.htm MedalofHonor.com bio of Doolittle]

*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1940_wwii/doolittle.html Medal of Honor citation]

*[http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1940_wwii/doolittle.html Medal of Honor citation]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Doolittle, James}}

[[Category:World War II]]

[[Category:World War II]]

[[Category:Medal of Honor recipients]]

[[Category:Medal of Honor recipients]]

[[Category:Air Power]]

[[Category:Air Power]]