Description:

(DOOLITTLE MISSION) MARC MITSCHER
(1887 - 1947) American naval officer who commanded the USS HORNET during the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo as well as the aircraft carriers of Task Force 58 in the Pacific area during World War II. Fine content T.L.S. on U.S. Eighth Fleet letterhead, 1p. 4to., Mar. 29, 1946 to Capt. CARL L. WILDNER (1915-1994), an American Army lieutenant colonel who served as the navigator with Crew #2 aboard Plane #40-2292 in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. His plane made a wheels-up crash-landing in a soft rice paddy in China and the crew walked for three days before friendly local guerilla fighters found them. Mitscher writes, in part: '...On April 18, 1942, the first blow against the Japanese homeland was struck by American planes, jumping off from an undisclosed point to bomb Tokyo. To Americans, grimly facing reverses on every front, it brought an electric shock of hope. To an arrogant enemy, it foreshadowed inevitable defeat. A folder of photographs depicting the dramatic operation has been prepared by the United States Navy especially for the surviving members of the 'Shangri-La' team and for the families of their comrades whose lives were lost. I have attached a copy, which I know you will treasure. As commanding officer of the U.S.S. HORNET at the time the raid was launched from her decks, I share your pride in the skill and daring of the men who flew with 'Jimmy' Doolittle on that mission...' File holes at top, else fine.

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000