I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1209 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of 
the ‘‘Doolittle Tokyo Raiders’’, for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, 
and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 15, 2013 
Mr. OLSON (for himself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas, Mr. TUR-
NER, Mr. NUNNELEE, Mr. BRIDENSTINE, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, 
and Mr. STIVERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War 
II members of the ‘‘Doolittle Tokyo Raiders’’, for out-
standing heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United 
States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) on April 18, 1942, the brave men of the 
17th Bombardment Group (Medium) became known 
as the ‘‘Doolittle Tokyo Raiders’’ for outstanding 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:20 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1209.IH
H1209
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United 
States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo; 
(2) 80 brave American aircraft crewmen, led by 
Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, volunteered for 
an ‘‘extremely hazardous mission’’, without knowing 
the target, location, or assignment, and willingly put 
their lives in harm’s way, risking death, capture, and 
torture; 
(3) the conduct of medium bomber operations 
from a Navy aircraft carrier under combat condi-
tions had never before been attempted; 
(4) after the discovery of the USS Hornet by 
Japanese picket ships 170 miles further away from 
the prearranged launch point, the Doolittle Tokyo 
Raiders proceeded to take off 670 miles from the 
coast of Japan; 
(5) by launching more than 100 miles beyond 
the distance considered to be minimally safe for the 
mission, the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders deliberately ac-
cepted the risk that the B–25s might not have 
enough fuel to reach the designated air-fields in 
China on return; 
(6) the additional launch distance greatly in-
creased the risk of crash landing in Japanese occu-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:20 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1209.IH
H1209
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
pied China, exposing the crews to higher probability 
of death, injury, or capture; 
(7) because of that deliberate choice, after 
bombing their targets in Japan, low on fuel and in 
setting night and deteriorating weather, none of the 
16 airplanes reached the prearranged Chinese air-
fields; 
(8) of the 80 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders who 
launched on the raid, 8 were captured, 2 died in the 
crash, and 70 returned to the United States; 
(9) of the 8 captured Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, 
3 were executed and 1 died of disease; and 
(10) there were only 5 surviving members of 
the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders as of February 2013. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) AWARD.— 
(1) AUTHORIZED.—The President pro tempore 
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives shall make appropriate arrangements 
for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single 
gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the 
World War II members of the 17th Bombardment 
Group (Medium) who became known as the ‘‘Doo-
little Tokyo Raiders’’, in recognition of their military 
service during World War II. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:20 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1209.IH
H1209
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes 
of the award referred to in paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall strike the gold medal 
with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to 
be determined by the Secretary. 
(3) NATIONAL
MUSEUM
OF
THE
UNITED 
STATES AIR FORCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of 
the gold medal referred to in paragraph (1) in 
honor of the World War II members of the 
17th Bombardment Group (Medium), who be-
came known as the ‘‘Doolittle Tokyo Raiders’’, 
the gold medal shall be given to the National 
Museum of the United States Air Force, where 
it shall be available for display with the Doo-
little Tokyo Raiders Goblets, as appropriate, 
and made available for research. 
(B) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense 
of Congress that the National Museum of the 
United States Air Force should make the gold 
medal received under this Act available for dis-
play elsewhere, particularly at other locations 
and events associated with the Doolittle Tokyo 
Raiders. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:20 Mar 22, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1209.IH
H1209
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS