Raider in the spotlight
Crew 3 - Pilot report Robert M. Gray
| Chungking, China May 2, 1942 |
||
| SUBJECT: | Mission report on Project April 18, 1942 | |
| TO: | Brigadier General J.H. Doolittle. | |
| Type Ship: | B-25-B (North American) #40-2270 | |
| Crew: | Pilot -- 1st Lt. Robert M. Gray Co-pilot -- 2nd Lt. Jack E. Manch Nav. -- 2nd Lt. Charles V. Ozak Bomb. - Sgt. Aden E. Jones Eng. Gun. -- Cpl. L.D. Factor |
|
Orders: This mission was voluntary called from Lexington Field, Columbia, S.C. and then to Eglin Field, Florida, to start working and training. From Florida the group went to McClellan Field, Cal. for more supplies and maintenance. We continued to Alameda Naval Base and loaded the planes aboard the U.S.S. Hornet.
All navigation equipment was issued enroute.
Order were given for all army pilots to man their planes for take off. We were to report to Chuchow, China, as soon as possible if could not land our planes.
| Time of Takeoff: | 8:30 U.S.S. Hornet time. |
| Altitude desired: | Bombing Alt.: 1500 ft. Approach: Under 1500 ft. |
| Actual Alt: | Bombing:1450 Approach: surface to 50 ft and 6500 over China. |
| Weather: | Broken to clear to Tokyo Clear and unlimited over Tokyo Enroute to China: Broken to overcast Over China: Overcast with rain. |
| Bombs: | 3 - 500 . dem. -- 1 - 500 incendiary |
| Ammunition: | 850 rounds 50 rounds 30 All ammunition loaded 2 tracers, 3 incendiary and 1 armor piercing. |
| Target: | Steel mill, chemical factory, gas co, and thickly populated small factories district. Contacted A.A. but did not have range. Had right altitude -- also ground fire. |
| Pursuit Opposition: | None. |
Mission Report:
Bombed Steel works but did not see the bombs hit. Felt the concussion. Second bomb made direct on gas company. Third bomb was a direct hit on the chemical works and setting fire to the whole works. Fourth scattered incendiary over the correct area but did not stay to see if it started fires. machine gunned barrax and men on the way out.
Arrival in China:
Giving orders thirty (30) minutes before time to bail out all personnel were in chutes. Gave an order fifteen (15) minutes before time again to make sure. When all personnel was gone, I switched on AFCE and jumped (6200 ft). I landed on summit of a mountain and remained there the remainder of the night. The next morning I looked for other personnel but could not find them. Walked all day and came to village where I stayed that night. Was directed in wrong direction for six miles and ended up where I started from that morning. Sgt. Aden Jones joined me there that night and we rode in chairs the next day to river side. Stayed there all night and until 16:30 o'clock the next day waiting on Lt. Jack Manch. On Lt. Manch arrival we loaded a small boat and traveled until night. Travelled by boat all the next day and part of the night arriving in Chuchow. Stayed two days in Chuchow. Went by train and bus to Hangyen which took four days. Took plane from Hangyen to Chungking.
/signed/
ROBERT M. GRAY
1st Lt., A.C
The Heroes of Doolittle's raid on Japan in april 1942
by Mr. Geert Rottiers
The book will be available soon.
