James Doolittle

James Doolittle (December 14, 1896 - September 27, 1993) was a World War II American army pilot, who is famous for leading the first U.S. bombing raid on Tokyo in 1942. After months of difficult training, Doolittle launched the Tokyo attack. He led a group of B-25's from the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet in a raid which aroused great fear in the Japanese. Later that same year, he arranged the first daylight attack on Berlin. American Flying Fortresses, an enormous aircraft, flew over the city. Doolittle was eventually appointed major general, and given command of an army air force in 1942. In 1943, Doolittle was promoted to lieutenant general. Doolittle was born in Alameda, California. He graduated from the University of California and received a fellowship in aeronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During World War I, he served as a gunnery instructor.