[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 113-106
113th Congress

An Act


 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the
``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and
service to the United States in conducting the bombings of
Tokyo. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) on April 18, 1942, the brave men of the 17th Bombardment
Group (Medium) became known as the ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders''
for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United
States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo;
(2) 80 brave American aircraft crewmen, led by Lieutenant
Colonel James Doolittle, volunteered for an ``extremely
hazardous mission'', without knowing the target, location, or
assignment, and willingly put their lives in harm's way, risking
death, capture, and torture;
(3) the conduct of medium bomber operations from a Navy
aircraft carrier under combat conditions had never before been
attempted;
(4) after the discovery of the USS Hornet by Japanese picket
ships 170 miles further away from the prearranged launch point,
the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders proceeded to take off 670 miles from
the coast of Japan;
(5) by launching more than 100 miles beyond the distance
considered to be minimally safe for the mission, the Doolittle
Tokyo Raiders deliberately accepted the risk that the B-25s
might not have enough fuel to reach the designated air-fields in
China on return;
(6) the additional launch distance greatly increased the
risk of crash landing in Japanese occupied China, exposing the
crews to higher probability of death, injury, or capture;
(7) because of that deliberate choice, after bombing their
targets in Japan, low on fuel and in setting night and
deteriorating weather, none of the 16 airplanes reached the
prearranged Chinese airfields;
(8) of the 80 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders who launched on the
raid, 8 were captured, 2 died in the crash, and 70 returned to
the United States;
(9) of the 8 captured Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, 3 were
executed and 1 died of disease; and
(10) there were only 5 surviving members of the Doolittle
Tokyo Raiders as of February 2013.

[[Page 1161]]

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) Award.--
(1) Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make
appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress,
of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the
World War II members of the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) who
became known as the ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', in recognition
of their military service during World War II.
(2) Design and striking.--For the purposes of the award
referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Treasury
shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and
inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(3) National museum of the united states air force.--
(A) In general.--Following the award of the gold
medal referred to in paragraph (1) in honor of the World
War II members of the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium),
who became known as the ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', the
gold medal shall be given to the National Museum of the
United States Air Force, where it shall be available for
display with the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Goblets, as
appropriate, and made available for research.
(B) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress
that the National Museum of the United States Air Force
should make the gold medal received under this Act
available for display elsewhere, particularly at other
locations and events associated with the Doolittle Tokyo
Raiders.

(b) Duplicate Medals.--Under such regulations as the Secretary may
prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the
gold medal struck under this Act, at a price sufficient to cover the
costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery,
and overhead expenses.
(c) National Medals.--Medals struck pursuant to this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.

Approved May 23, 2014.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1209 (S. 381):
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
May 19, considered and passed House.
May 20, considered and passed Senate.