Description:

(DOOLITTLE MISSION) NAVIGATOR NOLAN HERNDON WAR-DATE LETTER AS RUSSIAN INTERNEE
(1918 - 2007) Bombardier-Navigator in Plane #8 in the Doolittle Mission to Tokyo, interned in Russia after the raid for 13 months until returning to the United States on May 29, 1943. Herndon's plane was the only one of 16 B-25 bombers to stray from Doolittle's orders to fly to China after striking Tokyo. They escaped after paying an Afghan smuggler $250 to take them to the British Embassy in what is now Iran. Very rare war-date A.L.S. 'Nolan' with his name 'Lt. N. A. Nolan' appearing in block letters on the transmittal envelope, 2pp. 8vo., [Russia], [May?], 1942 to fellow Doolittle Raider, Navigator CARL WILDNER of Plane #2. Herndon, interned in Russia and obviously distressed, has misdated the letter 'Jan. 14, 1942' but Wildner has dated the envelope 'May 18', probably the date he received the letter which was only a month after the mission. Herndon writes, in part: '...Dear Carl: I received your letter to-day. I was very glad to get it & the news of a lot of you. We have heard of nearly all of you & have had letters & magazines to read, but not many. Our supply of home articles is way much less than yours. I was very sorry to hear about our friends [those killed following the raid], but the number was small compared to the chances. There was a day when we had bad thoughts about some mechanics that messed up our carburetors & our gas consumption was too high, but somehow we cut the intended distance down a little. Also fast planes are nice at times...' He complains about the cold temperatures (which Russian censors excised from the letter), closing: We are all well & got here in good shape as well as aeroplane. Tell all the boys hello & I hope we can be back together before too long...'

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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