Posted on 10/08/2007 6:55:07 PM PDT by lunarbicep
Nolan Herndon, a member of the famed Doolittle Raiders who bombed Japan in 1942, has died. He was 88.
Herndon died Sunday of pneumonia, Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home director David Burnett told The Associated Press on Monday.
Herndon, a Texas native, enlisted on July 27, 1940, after attending two years of college, according to the Web site http://www.doolittleraider.com.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant about a year later. He also graduated from navigator training and completed bombardier training.
Herndon participated in one of the most daring air raids in American history, when 16 B-25 bombers took off from an aircraft carrier and bombed Tokyo on April 18, 1942.
The raid, planned by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, was the subject of the book and movie "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and the book "Four Came Home."
After the raid, Herndon was interned for about a year in Russia and returned to the United States in May 1943, where he held several assignments until the end of World War II, according to the Web site.
Herndon retired from active duty Nov. 4, 1945.
A phone number for Herndon in Edgefield was unlisted.
Funeral services were scheduled for Wednesday at Edgefield United Methodist Church, Burnett said.
Herndon will be buried at Travis Park Cemetery in Saluda.
I’ve read several books on the Doolittle Raid. Truly one of the gutsiest raids in history.
RIP noble warrior.
Great bunch of men.
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I was debating that picture or something.
I have a penciled Doolittle autograph literally one foot from my reach right now. My father got it from Doolittle (whom he instantly recognized) while he was bartendering at one of the country clubs outside NYC (not Westchester). Dad joined the Navy between VE Day and VJ Day.
Doolittle was a major revered hero of the war.
I have a penciled Doolittle autograph literally one foot from my reach right now.
What a treasure. Wish I had one !!!
Pic captioned "Orders in hand, Navy Capt. Marc A. Mitscher, skipper of the USS Hornet (CV-8) chats with Lt. Col. James Doolittle, leader of the Army Air Forces attack group. This group of fliers carried the battle of the Pacific to the heart of the Japanese empire with a daring raid on military targets in major Japanese cities. It was the result of coordination between the two services. The USS Hornet carried the 16 North American B-25 bombers to within take-off distances of the Japanese Islands. (U.S.Navy photo)"
I’ve got one of Ed White above my desk. I was in 4th grade when I got it. He carpooled us 3 times a week.
eBay is your friend:
or:
I met a Doolittle Raider in 2005. I talked with him for about 25 minutes, and got a signed print of his unit insignia. It is signed R.E. Cole. It is a historical treasure to me.
Keep that protected for life. Pass it on as a treasure.
Captain York's B25 had suffered engine problems prior to the loading of the aircraft on the Hornet, and the flight to Japan compounded this. Despite heavy fuel consumption by both engines, York continued on course to drop his bombs on their assigned targets. Throughout the run the aircraft was defenseless with a top turret that failed to work. Without enough fuel to reach China, Cpt. York elected to fly the shorter distance to Russia where he landed at a field near Vladivostok in hopes of refueling to reach China. Instead, the still neutral Soviets confiscated the bomber and interred the crew for thirteen months. The crew returned home in May 1943 after escaping into Persia.
*a much larger picture available here: http://www.doolittleraider.com/images/Crew%2008.jpg
I talked with the Doolittle Museum at Travis AFB a few weeks ago and am trying to get my Dad to do a little writeup and some other tweaks, I’d like to donate it to them where I know it’ll properly cared for.
Nice gesture on your part. I guess you could get some bucks on eBay for it but I like your style !!!
$100. For Doolittle.
Feh.
the surviving members:
William M. Bower
Richard E. Cole
Jacob D. DeShazer
Thomas C. Griffin
Robert L. Hite
Edwin W. Horton, Jr.
David M. Jones
Frank A. Kappeler
James H. Macia
Charles J. Ozuk
Edward J. Saylor
David J. Thatcher
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