Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor (91 page)

212
 “We saw three bombers”: Current Intelligence Section, A-2, Interview with Joseph E. Grew, Ambassador to Japan, Sept. 8, 1942.

213
 “Well”: This exchange is ibid.

213
 “Our fondest wish”: Tom Bernard, “Japs Were Jumpy after Tokyo Raid,
Stars and Stripes
, April 27, 1943, p. 2.

213
 “I ran into a building”: Ibid.

213
 “It is so unfair”: Ibid.

213
 Danish Minister to Japan, Lars Tillitse: Lars Tillitse, “When Bombs Rained on Us in Tokyo,”
Saturday Evening Post
, Jan. 12, 1946, p. 34.

213
 “I looked down the streets”: “‘Worst’ Feared for Tokyo Fliers by Neutral Diplomats in Japan,”
New York Times
, April 25, 1943, p. 26.

213
 “If these raids go on”: Ibid.

214
 “It is true”: Office of Strategic Services, Research and Analysis Branch, Far Eastern Section, “Information Gathered on the S.S.
Gripsholm
,” Report No. 77, Aug. 27, 1942, Microfilm Roll #A1250, AFHRA.

214
 “an American air armada”: Otto Tolischus diary, April 18, 1942, in Tolischus,
Tokyo Record
, p. 369.

214
 “My friendly floor guard”: Ibid., pp. 368–69.

214
 “the thrill of a lifetime”: Joseph Dynan, “Interned Americans Were Thrilled by Raid on Japs,”
Tuscaloosa News
, July 28, 1942, p. 2.

214
 “We were having coffee”: Joseph Dynan, “Americans Saw Doolittle’s Attack on Japan,”
New York Times
, July 29, 1942, p. 4.

CHAPTER 12

215
 “Tokyo is our capital”: Yoshitake Miwa diary, Feb. 8, 1942.

215
 Ski York roared: Unless otherwise noted, details of York’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: Emmens,
Guests of the Kremlin
, pp. 8–12; “Interview with B-25 Crew That Bombed Tokyo and Was Interned by the Russians,” transcript, June 3, 1943, Iris #00115694, AFHRA; David Pohl as told to Don Dwiggins, “We Crash Landed in Russia—and Escaped,”
Cavalier
, pp. 12, 55, in Box 5, Series II, DTRAP; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 53–54; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 85–89, 211.

215
 “Kee-rist”: Emmens,
Guests of the Kremlin
, p. 8.

215
 “Where in the hell”: Ibid., p. 9.

216
 “Course from Tokyo”: Ibid.

216
 “Damn it, Bob”: Ibid.

216
 “Maybe a ray of hope”: Ibid., p. 10.

216
 “After flying for about 30 minutes”: “Interview with B-25 Crew That Bombed Tokyo and Was Interned by the Russians,” transcript, June 3, 1943.

216
 “Open your bomb bay doors”: Emmens,
Guests of the Kremlin
, p. 11.

216
 “Though I walk”: Jeff Wilkinson, “Crew Became ‘Guests of the Kremlin,”
State
, April 11, 2002, p. 1.

217
 “Bombs away!”: Emmens,
Guests of the Kremlin
, p. 11.

217
 “Keep your eyes peeled”: Ibid., p. 12.

217
 “I’ll bet we’re the first B-25 crew”: Ibid.

217
 First Lieutenant Harold Watson piloted: Unless otherwise noted, details of Watson’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: Harold F. Watson, Mission Report of Doolittle Project on April 18, 1942, May 14, 1942; James M. Parker Jr., Personal Report, May 14, 1942; Thomas C. Griffin, May 15, 1942; Eldred V. Scott, Personal Report, May 15, 1942; Wayne M. Bissell, Personal Report, May 14, 1942; Interview with Lt. J. M. Parker, Co-pilot of Airplane No. 40-2303 Piloted by Lt. H. F. Watson, in Summary of Targets in Japanese Raid and Memoranda of Personal Interviews with Major J. F. Pinkney; Memorandum of Interview with Sergeant Scott (Gunner), Member of Airplane Crew in No. 40-2303 Piloted by Lt. Watson, ibid.; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 50–51; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 90–96, 211.

218
 “A nice, sunshiny”: Peters, “Japan Bombed with 20-Cent Sight,” p. 1.

218
 “I expected to see holes”: Ibid.

218
 “majestic deliberation”: Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” p. 51.

218
 “I dropped two demolition”: Wayne M. Bissell, Personal Report, May 14, 1942.

219
 “Tracers were looping up”: Eldred V. Scott, “A Bridge between Free Peoples,” in Glines,
Doolittle’s Tokyo Raiders
, p. 221.

219
 First Lieutenant Richard Joyce piloted: Unless otherwise noted, details of Joyce’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: Richard O. Joyce, Mission Report of Doolittle Project on April 18, 1942, May 5, 1942; Richard O. Joyce, Report of Tokyo Raid, undated (ca. May 1942); Horace E. Crouch, May 5, 1942; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 52–53; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 97–99, 211.

219
 “When we were a short way”: Horace Crouch undated questionnaire, Box 1, Series II, DTRAP.

219
 “The targets were so thick”: J. Reilly O’Sullivan and Preston Grover, “‘Thanks for the Ride,’ and Raider Bails Out,”
Spokane Daily Chronicle
, April 24, 1943, p. 2.

220
 “I remember looking down”: Crouch oral history interview with Hasdorff, April 19, 1989.

221
 “I turned south”: Richard O. Joyce, Report of Tokyo Raid, undated (ca. May 1942).

221
 “It seemed that”: George Larkin diary, April 18.

221
 Captain Ross Greening: Unless otherwise noted, details of Greening’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: Charles R. Greening, Mission Report on Doolittle Project, April 18, 1942, May 2, 1942; Interview with Major Greening–Airplane No. 40-2249–Pilot, undated (ca. 1942), in Summary of Targets in Japanese Raid and Memoranda of Personal Interviews with Major J. F. Pinkney; Greening,
Not As Briefed
, pp. 27–33; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 54–55; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 99–103, 211.

221
 “Let’s be nonchalant”: Greening,
Not As Briefed
, p. 29.

221
 “I don’t think I’d ever flown”: Ibid.

221
 “Two of these were shot down”: Interview with Major Greening–Airplane No. 40-2249–Pilot, undated (ca. 1942).

221
 “We hugged the ground”: Peters, “Japan Bombed with 20-Cent Sight,” p. 1.

221
 “I flew so low”: Greening,
Not As Briefed
, p. 31.

222
 “I could see a concentration”: Ibid., pp. 31–32.

222
 “Oh, if my wife”: Peters, “Japan Bombed with 20-Cent Sight,” p. 1.

222
 “There were great sheets”: Ibid.

222
 “When we turned”: Kenneth Reddy diary, April 18, 1942.

223
 First Lieutenant Bill Bower: Unless otherwise noted, details of Bower’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: William J. Bower, Mission report of Doolittle Project on April 18, 1942, May 2, 1942; Report of Interview with Lt. Bowers and Lt. Pound–Airplane No. 40-2278, undated (ca. 1942), in Summary of Targets in Japanese Raid and Memoranda of Personal Interviews with Major J. F. Pinkney; Report of Interview with Sergeant W. J. Bither, Bombardier in Plane No. 40-2278, Commanded by Lt. Bower, Aug. 23, 1942, Ibid.; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 55–56; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 103–6, 211.

223
 “I became a busy boy”: William Bower diary, April 18, 1942, Box 1, Series II, DTRAP.

223
 “Why on earth”: Bower oral history interview with Edwards, Oct. 27, 1971.

223
 “Ahead was the bay”: William Bower diary, April 18, 1942.

223
 “About that time”: Ibid.

223
 “Bombs away”: Ibid.

223
 The total time: A post-raid report stated that the distance between the four targets was about a half-mile. In all likelihood, it was closer to a quarter-mile.

223
 “I was watching”: Pound, “We Bombed ‘The Land of the Dwarfs,’” p. 242.

224
 “Our bombs”: Blanton, “We Bombed Japan,” p. 10.

224
 “Because we were not allowed”: Pound, “We Bombed ‘The Land of the Dwarfs,’” p. 243.

224
 First Lieutenant Edgar McElroy: Unless otherwise noted, details of McElroy’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: Edgar E. McElroy, Mission Report of Doolittle Project on April 18, 1942; Edgar E. McElroy, Personal Report, May 4, 1942; Richard A. Knobloch, Personal Report, May 5, 1942; Robert C. Bourgeois, Personal Report, May 5, 1942; Clayton J. Campbell, Report of Navigator on #40-2247–Yokosuka Naval St., May 5, 1942; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 56–57; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 107–8, 211.

224
 “Mac, I think we’re going”: McElroy, “When We Were One,” p. 30.

225
 “It was a thrilling sensation”: Robert Bourgeois, “Road Back from Tokyo,”
Barksdale Bark
, Christmas Edition, 1943, p. 5.

225
 “I had looked at the pictures”: Robert Bourgeois to Ross Greening, Individual Histories questionnaire, undated (ca. 1950).

225
 “There were furious”: McElroy, “When We Were One,” p. 30.

225
 “Get ready!”: Ibid.

225
 “A blind man”: Wing, “Five Who Bombed Tokio Surprised They’re Heroes,” p. 1.

225
 “Bombs away!”: McElroy, “When We Were One,” p. 30.

225
 “We got an aircraft carrier!”: Ibid.

225
 “The large crane”: Edgar E. McElroy, Personal Report, May 4, 1942.

226
 “I looked out the window”: Frank Gibney, ed.,
Sens
ō
: The Japanese Remember the Pacific War
, trans. Beth Cary (Armonk, N.Y.: M. E. Sharpe, 1995), p. 203.

226
 “The enemy”: Ibid.

226
 Major Jack Hilger: Unless otherwise noted, details of Hilger’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: John A. Hilger, Report on Doolittle Project, May 5, 1942; John A. Hilger, Report of Airplane No. 40-2297, undated (ca. May 1942); Jack O. Sims, Personal Report, May 5, 1942; James H. Macia Jr., Personal Report, May 5, 1942; J. Eierman, Personal Report, undated (ca. May 1942); Edwin V. Bain, Personal Report, May 5, 1942; Interview with Lieutenant J. H. Macia, Navigator and Bombardier of Airplane No. 40-2297 Which Attacked Nagoya on April 18, 1942, undated (ca. 1942), in Summary of Targets in Japanese Raid and Memoranda of Personal Interviews with Major J. F. Pinkney; Interview with Lt. Sims–Airplane No. 40-2297 Which Attacked Nagoya April 18, 1942, undated (ca. 1942), ibid.; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 57–58; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 108–16, 211; Sims,
First over Japan
, pp. 29–30.

226
 “Where are those fighters?”: Cindy Hayostek, “Exploits of a Doolittle Raider,”
Military History
, March 1996, p. 61.

226
 “It was a beautiful spring day”: John Hilger diary, April 18, 1942, in John Hilger, “On the Raid,”
Life
, May 3, 1943, p. 92.

226
 “We climbed over”: Macia oral history interview with Hasdorff, July 15–16, 1987.

227
 “Look, they’ve got a ball game”: Eierman, “I Helped Bomb Japan,” p. 67.

227
 “While over Japan”: John A. Hilger, Report of Airplane No. 40-2297, undated (ca. May 1942).

227
 “Major Hilger, sir”: Eierman, “I Helped Bomb Japan,” p. 67.

227
 “Some of the stuff”: Ibid.

227
 “No”: This exchange comes from Jack Hilger, undated questionnaire, Box 3, Series II, DTRAP.

228
 “I saw some ten to fifteen fires”: Edwin V. Bain, Personal Report, May 5, 1942.

228
 “A tremendous building”: John Hilger diary, April 18, 1942, in Hilger, “On the Raid,” p. 92.

228
 “All I had to do”: James “Herb” Macia oral history with Floyd Cox, July 21, 2000, National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, Tex.

228
 “Our fourth and last target”: John Hilger diary, April 18, 1942, in Hilger, “On the Raid,” p. 92.

228
 “That was a beautiful hit”: Eierman, “I Helped Bomb Japan,” p. 67.

228
 “As we passed over”: Ibid.

228
 “I fired a burst”: Edwin V. Bain, Personal Report, May 5, 1942.

228
 “His left fist”: Eierman, “I Helped Bomb Japan,” p. 68.

229
 “Boy”: Jack Hilger, undated questionnaire, Box 3, Series II, DTRAP.

229
 First Lieutenant Donald Smith: Unless otherwise noted, details of Smith’s attack on Japan are drawn from the following sources: Donald G. Smith, Mission Report of Doolittle Project on April 18, 1942, May 14, 1942; Donald G. Smith, Personal Report, May 14, 1942; Griffith P. Williams, Personal Report, undated (ca. May 1942); Howard A. Sessler, Personal Report, May 14, 1942; Edward J. Saylor, Personal Report, May 15, 1942; Gene Casey, “Conversation over Kobe,” p. 23; Memorandum of Interview with Lt. D. G. Smith, Pilot of Airplane No. 40-2267, and Lt. T. R. White, Medical Officer on the Same Ship, Which Attacked Kobe April 18, 1942, undated (ca. 1942), in Summary of Targets in Japanese Raid and Memoranda of Personal Interviews with Major J. F. Pinkney; Notes Taken during an Interview with the Flyers Who Bombed Kobe April 18, 1942, June 17, 1942, ibid.; Marshall, “Tokyo Raid,” pp. 57–58; Shibata and Hara,
D
ō
rittoru K
ū
sh
ū Hiroku
, pp. 116–21, 211.

229
 “This took place”: Donald G. Smith, Personal Report, May 14, 1942.

229
 “Oh-oh!”: Casey, “Conversation over Kobe,” p. 23.

229
 “We ought to be seeing”: Ibid.

229
 “Here’s a good chance”: This exchange is ibid.