Figure 1.--Most American military commanders became famous during the War. Doolittle was famous before the War. At a very young age, the family moved to of all places Nome, Alaska. His father was looking for gold. Jimmy was short even as an adult. Growing up in a rough place around larger boys, he became quite a scrappy kid in part because his mother insusted on doing his hair in curls.
Jimmy found himself geting into fights becuse of hius size and other boys who made fun of his long curls. After his first day of school, Jimmy demanded his mother cut off his curls. but he kept on fighting. He would make a name for himself as boxer until he he came across his first love -- aviation.
James Harold Doolittle was born in Alameda, California (1896). He would become the most famous USAAF commander of World War II, eclipsing even USAAF commander Hap Arnold, primarily because of the famous carrier-based bombing attack on Tokyo (1942). Most American military commanders became famous during the War. Doolittle was famous before the War. At a very young age, the family moved to of all places Nome, Alaska. His father was looking for gold. Jimmy was short even as an adult. Growing up in a rough place around larger boys, he became quite a scrappy kid in part because his mother insusted on doing his hair in curls.
Jimmy found himself geting into fights becuse of his small size and other boys who made fun of his long curls. After his first day of school, Jimmy demanded his mother cut off his curls. but he kept on fighting. He would make a name for himself as boxer until he he came across his first love -- aviation. Doolittle studied as an undergraduate at University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1922. He became one of the best known aviation pioneers, winning many races. His public profile was only eclipsed by Lindbergh. Doolittle took vitiation seriously. He earned a doctorate in aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1925), the first issued in the United States. Compare this with his main adversary--Luftwaffe Chief Herman Göring who probably never opened a book on aeronautics. In the barn storming eras, he executed maneuvers with planes that others did not believe possible. He won races, set speed and distance records, and pioneered 'blind' (integument) flying. He won th Harmon Trophy which made all-weather airline operations practical. He served as flying instructor during World War I and became reserve officer in the United States Army Air Corps. Out of the seducer, he played a major role in developing 100-octane aviation gasoline on a commercial scale. He had become aviation manager of Shell Oil Company. This would help save Britain in the Battle of Britain and play an important role in Allied air successes during the War. He was recalled to active duty as America began preparing for World War II (1940). His major assignment was to help American automobile companies convert to aircraft production. His claim to public fame came with what will always be known as the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo (1942), which earned him the Medal of Honor presented personally by President Roosevelt. That was a morale boost for the American public, but his major contribution to the war effort was in command of the Eighth Air Force--the Mighty Eighth waging the air offensive against th Reich. He replaced Carl Spatz Eighth Air Force commander (1944). He introduced a range of new tactics, although much of his resulting success winning the air war over the Reich was due to the arrival of the P-51 Mustang escorts.
