Description:

(DOOLITTLE MISSION) JAMES H. DOOLITTLE
(1896 - 1993) American aviation pioneer, commander of the Doolittle Raid against Tokyo. Fine content and association T.L.S. 'J' on official letterhead, 2pp. 4to., Washington, Nov. 27, 1945 to Capt. CARL M. WILDNER (1915-1994), a future Army lieutenant colonel who served as the navigator with Crew #2 aboard Plane #40-2292 piloted by Capt. Travis Hoover. Wildner's plane managed to make a wheels-up crash-landing in a soft rice paddy in China. The crew, uninjured, torched their B-25 and walked for three days before friendly local guerilla fighters found them. Doolittle writes, in small part: '...Dear Carl: You may recall that I promised you boys a party in Chungking shortly before we left the Hornet. Due to the fact that we didn't all get to Chungking at the same time and the almost complete absence of 'party facilities' there, was unable to make good my promise. For the next three and a half years, we were scattered pretty much over the world. When VJ Day came along most of us, except those heroic dead of our unit, were collected up and sent home. Now seems to be the right time to have our get-together and I, for one, would appreciate nothing more than a chance to swap handshakes, yarns and toasts with the old, original gang. With this in mind, we are endeavoring to make arrangements for sleeping accommodations in Miami and for fishing boats, etc. Think we can work out cross-country training flights from various parts of the country in order to secure transportation...Have written to all of the boys whose addresses we have been able to find, inviting them to the party, which is tentatively set for December 15 in Miami...The records show that of our original 80 two were lost on April 18, 1942-- Bill Deiter and Don Fitzmaurice. Bob Meder died on Christmas Eve in a Jap prison. Bill Farrow, Dean Hallmark and Hal Spatz died, directly or in-directly, as a result of Japanese brutality. Thirteen more of the original 80 made the supreme sacrifice in other theaters of war. These were: Bob Clever, Bob Gray, Denver Truelove, Don Smith, Dick Miller, Ken Reddy, Ed Bain, Paul Leonard, George Larkin, Leland Faktor, Gene McGurl, Omer Duquette and Mel Gardner. I find it difficult to realize that so many of our buddies are gone and call this sad condition to your mind in order that we may do them homage...' Near fine. Annual reunions of the veterans of the mission would follow for decades.

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November 13, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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