American pilots, crew # 5, who took part in the Doolittle raid (aircraft number 40-2283, target – Tokyo) from the 95th Bomber Squadron.
American pilots, first row, left to right:
Crew Commander – First Pilot, Captain David M. Jones;
Co-pilot, Lieutenant Ross R. Wilder;
American pilots, second row, from left to right:
Navigator, Lieutenant Eugene F. McGurl;
Bombardier, Lieutenant Denver V. Truelove;
Flight Engineer Sergeant Joseph W. Manske;
David M. Jones’ plane crossed the coastline of Japan at an altitude of only 15 m. Since his plane could not be fully refueled before takeoff, David M. Jones decided to attack the nearest target. Approaching the port of Tokyo, Jones climbed to a height of 60 m and quickly chose the target for his striker Lieutenant Denver V. Truelove. The first bomb hit the large fuel tank, and the second hit the three-story power plant. Anti-aircraft batteries opened fire. The third bomb hit a two-story structure with a gable roof. A fourth bomb landed in the corner of another two-story building. David M. Jones was the first to reach China, after which the crew left the plane and landed by parachute. Two crew members remained to fight in Indochina. Captain David M. Jones and Lieutenant Denver V. Truelove continued to fly in the European theater of operations. Although all five crew members survived the raid, two were killed in action before the war ended and Captain David M. Jones was captured.
Sources of information on American Pilots Photo:
1.www.goodwearleather.com
2.sad-rascko.livejournal.com
American pilots, crew number 4 from Doolittle Raid
Location: Pacific Ocean
Photo Time: April 18, 1942