Sergeant William L. Birch
- First name: | Wiiliam |
- Middle name: | Lloyd |
- Last name: | Birch |
- Nickname: | Bill |
- Rank Doolittle raid: | Staff Sergeant |
- Last rank: | Lieutenant |
- Service number: | 6561172 |
- Date of birth: | 07 September 1917 |
- Place of birth: | Calexico, California |
- Date of death: | 18 November 2006 |
- Place of death: | Temecula, California |
- Place of the cemetery: | Cremated - Location of the cremation ashes is unknown. |
- Name of the cemetery: | Location of the cremation ashes is unknown. |
Additional info
William Lloyd Birch was born in Calexico, California on 7 September 1917.
After he completed 8 years of grammar school he graduated from Kern County Union High School in 1935. He joined the United States Army Air Force in September 1939.
His hobbies were raising animals, specialising in Persian cats and raccoons.
In the book of George Nolta "The Doolittle Rraiders" "What Heroes Do after the War" we read that Birch had a plane accident in 1943 and that he had to leave servic in 1945 after a year of geing treated in the hospitzal with a broken back. Birich worked in the butchershop of hs father and he found a job in the oil industry. He became a helicopter pilot and instructor. He started a flying school and trained ùany helicopter pilots who went to Vietnam and flew missions there.
He married Barbara Beatty Birch during 1947 and they lived in San Diego (already since December 1945) The couple had two children. But their children died of cancer. Birch himself will die also fromcancer on 18 November 2006.
When his squadron was asked, William Birch was among those who volunteered for the Tokyo Raid. He took part in the Raid as the bombardier of the #11 aircraft flown by Capt. Ross Greening. Their aircraft made a bomb run on an oil refinery and attacked a patrol boat headed out of Tokyo Bay to the China Sea. The crew bailed out at night over China and were assisted by Chinese villagers/
Some quotes from his journal reflect his feelings about having been a member of the Doolittle Raiders and their place in history:
"Of all the accolades that our group has received over the years, the one I treasure most is in the statement made by Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey at the time, "In my opinion, their flight was one of the most courageous deeds in military history." - "I felt proud that I had met the enemy and prevailed. In some small way our group had helped avenge that infamous Sunday, Dec 7 1941. I was certain that our group had paved the way and our America would rise like the Phoenix from the ashes of defeat and despair and ultimately gain victory over the oppressors of the world".
William Birch, left, in China after bombing Japan and bailing with his crew above China.
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The Heroes of Doolittle's raid on Japan in april 1942
by Mr. Geert Rottiers
The book will be available soon.
