[ Autograph ] James H. Doolittle d. 1993 American aviator who gainedfame both as a racing pilot and as leader of the first air raid on Tokyo during World War 11 Fine content T.L.S. on the letterhead of the George Washington Bicentennial Airplane Flight, 1932, reading at top: "En Route Dropped at Place indicated by Postmark'. This letter was dropped from Doolittle's airplane during his famous flight to cover the routes traveled by George Washington, going as far as possible on July 25, 1932 The letter reads in part: '...In this Bicentennial Year of George Washington's birth it therefore seems appropriate that a demonstration be made of the advance of transportation facilities since those early days... it is hoped to cover [by air] in each hour the distance it took Washington nine days to travel... I am dropping several of these letters as I pass over certain cities... this demonstration will indicate the great advance made in speed in 157 years and show the extent of the travels of the Father of Our Country... " With fancy postal cover showing the route of the flight with all cities indicated, postmarked July 25, 1932 at Washington, D.C. Light toning