Evening star., 1943-04-25
Toxic BOMBING
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okio Bombing
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between two buildings blowing up
the walls and scrambling men be-
tween them. The targets were
steel mills and instrument factories.
All the Toxic veterans expressed
hope to return and do the trick
again. Besides the eight in China,
an equal number are fighting the
japanese from bases in India. Most
of the others left Asia some time ago
and small number have been killed
or captured.
The carrier Hornet which was
their "Shrangri-La" base was guard
ed by cruisers and destroyers which
constituted formidable task force
under the command of Admiral Will
liam F.. Halsey, jr, now commander
in the South Pacific. 1t was Ad-
miral Halsey who decided, after
sinking a Japanese ship with a
thunderous volley of cruiser guns.
that the original plan to slip to
within 400 miles of Japan for the
takeoff must be revised.
Within few minutes of the de-
cision, Gen. Doolittle lifted his heavy
plane from the deck and started for
Toxic. Barely three minutes apart,
the others followed.
Every plane took off despite the
hazardous character of the opera
ton. The lone ar-accident hap
pened to 1t. Ted Lawson OF Los
Angeles, who, during the tense rush,
attempted to take off without low
ering his wing flaps. The plane left
the deck and sagged sickeningly
toward the sea, but it had speed
enough to avoid a lunge square in
the path of the oncoming Hornet.
Each plane carried a load of ex-
plosive bombs and big bundles of
incendiaries and to a man, those
questioned expressed the belief that
minimum of at least two explosives
were planted on every designated
target.
Couldn't Miss, Flyer Says.
Anyway, the targets were so
thick and we were SO low, we couldn't t
miss" Capt. Crouch recalled.
After the bombs were dropped, the
real problem ahead was that of get
ting to friendly Chinese territory
where they must land in pitch dark
ness.
Planes piloted by 1t. Dean Hall
mark of Dallas, Tex, and 1t. Will
liam Farrow of South Carolina and
Washington, we're captured in parts
of China held by the japanese.
1t was afternoon when Toxic was
left behind spouting flames in
many spots Not a bomber was lost
over that target. One by one the
planes headed for the Chinese main
land with only the slightest hope
of reaching it because of a gasoline
shortage caused by the longer than
planned flight from the Hornet TO
Japan. Luck came to the Amer
leans aid. A tailwind whipped in
behind them.
Gasoline indicators on several
planes already were humping the
bottom when the planes crossed the
China coast in the darkness.
Gen. Doolittle tried to reach the
Chinese lines, but he didn't make
them and spent three weeks getting
into friendly territory.
The stories of others were like
incredible nightmares.
Chute Catches in Tree.
1t. Charles J. Ozuk of Chicago,
navigator on a plane piloted by 1t.
Robert M. Gray of Killeen, Tex,
leaped from his plane with the
others. His parachute caught in a
tree and crushed him against a
nearby rock ledge, knocking a piece
from his shinbone. Throughout that
night and the succeeding day and
night he hung from the chute be-
fore he could gain strength to cut
himself loose.
He fashioned a crutch and with
the aid of natives made his way
to safety.
1t. Lawson's leg was mangled
when a crash landing threw him
through the top of his plane. Later
he met surgeon, 1t. Thomas R.
White of Redlands, Calf, from an
other plane. 1t. White repeatedly
operated on 1t Lawson's leg during
long trek into friendly territory.
1t. Lawson is minus that leg now
and recuperating in a Washington
hospital
Just before Sergt. Waldo ]. Bither
of Shreveport, La. leaped from his
plane his parachute suddenly opened
and enveloped the interior of the
plane in folds of white silk.
With the assistance of 1t. Thadd
H. Blanton of Gainesville, Tex
Sergt. Bither frantically repacked
the chute on a navigator's table in
| the plane and dived out into the
| darkness.
That wasn't the end of his ex-
| perience, however. The sargeant
landed on hillside completely in
doubt about which way he was
headed. Finally he decided to flip a
cigarette and follow it. His eyes al
most popped out as he watched the
tiny glow of the cigarette stub dis
appear over the edge of 100-foot
| ledge on which he was standing. He
clutched the hillside and waited for
daylight.
Forced to Jettison Bombs.
The plane piloted by Maj Everett
| w. Holstrom of Tacoma, Wash, and
co-piloted by 1t. Lucian N. Young
blood of Waco, Tex, was jumped by
two Zeros as it reached Yokohama
Bay, compelling it to jettison its
| bombs into the bay in order to es-
cape. After the crew reached China
it took them four days to find q
friendly guerrilla band.
Several pilots noted as they new