American pilots, Crew # 11, who took part in the Doolittle Raid. The aircraft number is 40-2249. Nickname – Hari Kari-er. Target – Yokohama. 34th Bomber Squadron
American pilots, first row, left to right:
Crew Commander – First Pilot, Captain C. Ross Greening;
Co-pilot, Lieutenant Kenneth E. Reddy.
American pilots, second row, from left to right:
Navigator, Lieutenant Frank A. Kappeler;
Bombardier, Staff Sergeant William L. Birch;
Flight Engineer Gunnery Sergeant Melvin J. Gardner.
Captain C. Ross Greening’s plane was the first to attack Yokohama. Flying over Lake Kasumiga, the plane passed over a training airfield 150 meters from the ground. Ten minutes later, the B-25B was intercepted by four high-speed fighters. During the battle, Sergeant Melvin J. Gardner managed to hit two Japanese aircraft. As a result of the bombing, a camouflaged fuel and lubricants warehouse was destroyed. While flying over Tokyo Bay, Staff Sergeant William L. Birch fired at three patrol boats from a bow machine gun, one of which was on fire. Reaching China, the American pilots parachuted 200 miles from the assembly point. On landing, Lieutenant Kenneth E. Reddy smashed his kneecap and sustained a lacerated leg wound. Sergeant Melvin J. Gardner sprained both ankles. After some time, the American pilots made it safely to the assembly point.
Sources of information on American Pilots Photo:
1.www.goodwearleather.com
2.sad-rascko.livejournal.com
Location: Pacific Ocean
Photo Time: April 18, 1942