Gen. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle was a profound presence in aviation: from his U.S. Army Air Corps service to his groundbreaking instrument-only flight to leading of the Doolittle Raid during World War II. Born in Alameda California., December 14, 1896 Jimmy Doolittle attended University of California Berkeley before joining the U.S. Army Signal Corp Reserves on campus. His flight-training took place at Rockwell Field, California. During the remainder of World War I, Doolittle served as a flight instructor. After the war, he became the first pilot to fly across the country in less than 24 hours. Aided for the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics, INC, he helped develop technology for instrument-only flying. In 1929 Doolittle made the first known blind flight.

After joining Shell Oil Company as head of the aviation department in 1930. Doolittle continued to set air speed records. Doolittle returned to active service in 1940, working with large auto manufacturers to convert the facilities for aircraft production. After Pearl Harbor, Doolittle planned an innovative air raid on the Japanese mainland using land-based bombers launched from an aircraft carrier. The raid was executed April 18, 1942. Although the damage to the Japanese war effort was minimal, the raid served as a morale-booster by proving Japan was not isolated from attack. Lt. Colonel Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to the rank of General. By September 1942, Doolittle was assigned command of the Twelfth Air Force. Before the war ended, he would also command the Fifteenth Air Force.

Post war, Doolittle continued to serve as an advisor on many fronts, serving as a scientific advisor, and conducting a study of the Central Intelligence Agency. Doolittle received many honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Bronze Star.

Doolittle died September 27, 1993 in Pebble Beach, California and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Link to the Descriptive Finding Guide.

Many images of Jimmy Doolittle can be found on our Flickr page.