On display in National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
Awards and Decorations of General James Harold Doolittle
Doolittle's Medal of Honor.
19 May 1942:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Brigadier General [then Lieutenant Colonel] James Harold Doolittle (ASN: 0-271855), United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous leadership above the call of duty, involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life while Commanding the First Special Aviation Project in a bombing raid of Tokyo, Japan, on 18 April 1942. With the apparent certainty of being forced to land in enemy territory or to perish at sea, General Doolittle personally led a squadron of Army bombers, manned by volunteer crews, in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland.
Army Air Corps Brig. Gen. James Doolittle receives the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 20, 1942, during a White House ceremony. Doolittle led a squadron of bombers in a raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities on April 18, 1942. Looking on are (from left) Army Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, chief of the Army Air Forces; Mrs. Josephine Doolittle; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall.
19 May 1942:
Medal of Honor
Brigadier General James Harold Doolittle
United States Army Air Forces
CITATION:
Brigadier General James Harold Doolittle
United States Army Air Forces
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Brigadier General [then Lieutenant Colonel] James Harold Doolittle (ASN: 0-271855), United States Army Air Forces, for conspicuous leadership above the call of duty, involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life while Commanding the First Special Aviation Project in a bombing raid of Tokyo, Japan, on 18 April 1942. With the apparent certainty of being forced to land in enemy territory or to perish at sea, General Doolittle personally led a squadron of Army bombers, manned by volunteer crews, in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland.
Army Air Corps Brig. Gen. James Doolittle receives the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 20, 1942, during a White House ceremony. Doolittle led a squadron of bombers in a raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities on April 18, 1942. Looking on are (from left) Army Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, chief of the Army Air Forces; Mrs. Josephine Doolittle; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall.
Republic of China Order of the Cloud and Banner.
3rd class No.116
Silver, enamel.
Size: 102 × 76 mm.
Thickness 6 mm.
3rd class No.116
Silver, enamel.
Size: 102 × 76 mm.
Thickness 6 mm.
Republic of China Medal of Armed Forces A grade 1st class.
Damaged miniature.
Pin miniature.
Ribbon bar.
Original case.
Damaged miniature.
Pin miniature.
Ribbon bar.
Original case.
Distinguished Service Medal awarded "for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force since its organization. Under his guidance and direction, this Force has developed a high degree of efficiency and accuracy and brought about, in great measure, a critical reduction in the supplies and reinforcements needed by the enemy. General Doolittle's energy, good judgment, exceptional qualities of leadership and wholehearted cooperation were primary factors in the ultimate success of air operations during the Tunisian Campaign."
Distinguished Flying Cross.
First cross awarded in 1929 with citation:
"For extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. On 4–5 September 1922, Lieutenant Doolittle accomplished a one-stop flight from Pablo Beach, Florida, to San Diego, California, in 22 hours and 30 minutes elapsed time, an extraordinary achievement with the equipment available at that time. By his skill, endurance, and resourcefulness he demonstrated the possibility of moving Air Corps units to any portion of the United States in less than 24 hours, thus reflecting great credit on himself and to the Army of the United States."
Second cross awarded in 1929 with citation:
"For extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. During March 1924, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, Lieutenant Doolittle, piloting a Fokker PW-7 pursuit airplane, performed a series of acceleration tests requiring skill, initiative, endurance, and courage of the highest type. In these tests a recording accelerometer was mounted in the airplane and the accelerations taken for the following maneuvers. Loops at various air speeds; single and multiple barrel rolls; power spirals; tail spins; power on and power off; half loop, half roll, and Immelmann turn; inverted flight; pulling out of dive at various air speeds; flying the airplane on a level course with considerable angle of bank; and flying in bumpy air. In these tests the airplane was put through the most extreme maneuvers possible in order that the flight loads imposed upon the wings of the airplane under extreme conditions of air combat might be ascertained. These tests were put through with that fine combination of fearlessness and skill which constitutes the essence of distinguished flying. Through them scientific data of great and permanent importance to the Air Corps were obtained."
Second DFC awarded in the form of a bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC. War Department, General Orders No. 16.
Third cross awarded in 1942 with citation:
"For extraordinary achievement as Pilot of a B-25 Bomber and Commanding Officer of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Colonel Doolittle with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service."
Third DFC awarded in the form of a second bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC. War Department, General Orders No. 16.
First cross awarded in 1929 with citation:
"For extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. On 4–5 September 1922, Lieutenant Doolittle accomplished a one-stop flight from Pablo Beach, Florida, to San Diego, California, in 22 hours and 30 minutes elapsed time, an extraordinary achievement with the equipment available at that time. By his skill, endurance, and resourcefulness he demonstrated the possibility of moving Air Corps units to any portion of the United States in less than 24 hours, thus reflecting great credit on himself and to the Army of the United States."
Second cross awarded in 1929 with citation:
"For extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. During March 1924, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, Lieutenant Doolittle, piloting a Fokker PW-7 pursuit airplane, performed a series of acceleration tests requiring skill, initiative, endurance, and courage of the highest type. In these tests a recording accelerometer was mounted in the airplane and the accelerations taken for the following maneuvers. Loops at various air speeds; single and multiple barrel rolls; power spirals; tail spins; power on and power off; half loop, half roll, and Immelmann turn; inverted flight; pulling out of dive at various air speeds; flying the airplane on a level course with considerable angle of bank; and flying in bumpy air. In these tests the airplane was put through the most extreme maneuvers possible in order that the flight loads imposed upon the wings of the airplane under extreme conditions of air combat might be ascertained. These tests were put through with that fine combination of fearlessness and skill which constitutes the essence of distinguished flying. Through them scientific data of great and permanent importance to the Air Corps were obtained."
Second DFC awarded in the form of a bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC. War Department, General Orders No. 16.
Third cross awarded in 1942 with citation:
"For extraordinary achievement as Pilot of a B-25 Bomber and Commanding Officer of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Colonel Doolittle with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service."
Third DFC awarded in the form of a second bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC. War Department, General Orders No. 16.
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- awards of general james harold doolittle china medal of armed forces a grade 1st class decorations of general james harold doolittle distinguished service medal general james harold doolittle chinese awards general james harold doolittle medal of honor order of the cloud and banner republic of china order of the cloud and banner