Serving as an airman in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Lieutenant Colonel James Harold Doolittle received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 18, 1942 over Tokyo, Japan during World War II. At the time he was serving with Army Air Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C.. Doolittle was 45 years old.
The medal was presented on May 19, 1942 — the White House, presented by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt. He later rose to the rank of General.
Doolittle was born on December 14, 1896 in Alameda, Alameda County, California. His Medal of Honor is credited to Berkeley, Alameda County, California. Doolittle died on September 27, 1993 in Pebble Beach, California, at the age of 96. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC ; Tennessee Museum of Aviation, Sevierville, TN ; McDermott Library Special Collections, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX.
Doolittle is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous leadership above the call of duty, involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life. With the apparent certainty of being forced to land in enemy territory or to perish at sea, Brigadier General (then Lieutenant Colonel) Doolittle personally led a squadron of Army bombers, manned by volunteer crews, in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, James Harold Doolittle received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, World War II, Doolittle Raid.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: engineer
- Education: Los Angeles City College, Manual Arts High School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →
Timeline
- December 14, 1896Born in Alameda, Alameda County, California
- April 18, 1942Act of valor — over Tokyo, JapanAge 45. Army Air Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
- May 19, 1942Medal of Honor presentedThe White House, presented by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt
- September 27, 1993Died in Pebble Beach, CaliforniaAge 96.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle (December 14, 1896 – September 27, 1993) was an American military general and aviation pioneer who received the Medal of Honor for his raid on Japan during World War II, known as the Doolittle Raid in his honor. He made early coast-to-coast flights and record-breaking speed flights, won many flying races, and helped develop and flight-test instrument flying. According to the FAA, he was the first pilot ever to perform a successful instrument flight. Doolittle grew up in Nome, Alaska. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1922.
From the Wikipedia article “Jimmy Doolittle”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- James H. Doolittle Award — award
