I was a Navy aircrewman, and have the greatest respect for Navy pilots, but I have to say that the greatest Naval aviators were the Army Air Corps men that flew Mitchells of the Hornet...with only enough fuel to crash or bail out in hopefully friendly territory. I often wonder these days if we as a nation are worthy of the legacy of men like that. My father had the misfortune to be a 20 year old sergeant at a place called Corregidor. I often wonder.
Read 30 Seconds Over Tokyo when I was a kid and still remember most of it
Later in the article it says they were executed in China (Shanghai) which I believe is correct. Chinese villagers and members of Chang Kai-shek's army that were accused of helping the downed pilots were also executed.
As a child Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo was the first adult book that I read. A couple years ago I participated in the flyover at the last raider’s memorial service.
It is important to remember what Japan did, not that long ago, and how the communists have now taken over America.
Say their names out loud.
William Farrow
Dean Edward Hallmark
Harold Spatz
These men died an heroic death in a mission to make it clear to the Japanese people that their island nation was NOT invulnerable, and that retribution soon would be coming for the attack on Pearl Harbor.