[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 58 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   61ST REUNION OF DOOLITTLE RAIDERS

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                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2003

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to invite 
our colleagues to join us in honoring the Jimmy Doolittle Raiders on 
the 61st Anniversary of their remarkable bombing raid during World War 
II.
  After Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a series of sudden 
assaults against several Pacific Islands, and a devastating invasion of 
mainland China, the Japanese appeared invincible. In a mission cloaked 
in secrecy, Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle was selected as the leader based 
on his prowess as a military pilot and skills as a titleholder in 
civilian air races. Doolittle had the right stuff--inspiring leadership 
skills, flamed by a successful track record of pushing military and 
civilian aircraft to their operational limits.
  On April 18, 1942, fifteen B-25s lifted off the deck of the aircraft 
carrier USS Hornet and headed for Japan. The challenge was to launch 
sixteen Army Air Corps B-25 bombers, designed for takeoffs from long 
land-based runways, from a perilously short 250-foot takeoff area on 
the deck of a U.S. Navy carrier, and then fly 450 miles to Japan. The 
plan was to fly at treetop level to evade radar detection, then bomb 
seven targets selected as the enemy's primary war-making industrial 
sites, before heading to safe landing sites in China.
  However, to preserve the element of surprise, the B-25s were launched 
700 miles out to sea, a decision that did add to the surprise but also 
limited the effectiveness of the raid. One plane managed to land near 
Vladivostok, Russia, where its crew was interred for 14 months before 
escaping through Iran. In one of the other crews, two men drowned and 
one died on bailout. Eight Raiders were captured by Japanese forces 
and, became POWs for the duration of the war. Of these, three were 
executed and one died of malnutrition. The other four were released 
after three and a half years as POWs. Other Raiders bailed out over 
China and were assisted by the Chinese. While the raid did not succeed 
at destroying the selected targets, some of the crews dropped their 
bombs in Japanese territory. But more importantly, the raid has been 
recognized as a major turning point for the United States, boosting its 
morale and leading to an American offensive and the battle of Midway, 
which ultimately led to victory in the Pacific. Of the 80 original 
Raiders, 73 survived the raid, 19 of whom are still alive and 
celebrating today.
  The 61st Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders will be held from April 15 
to April 19 in our California congressional districts, in Fairfield, 
Vacaville, and Travis Air Force Base. The event will jumpstart the 
fundraising phase of the Jimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum 
Foundation--a $50 million project that honors the history of flight, 
military air power in the defense of our nation, and the future of 
space technology.
  We know that the Members of the House of Representatives join us in 
honoring all the Doolittle Raiders for their service, their courage and 
their sacrifice.

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