Doolittle, James ("Jimmy") Harold (1896–1993)
Longtime aviation promoter, air racer, United States Air Force officer,
and advocate of aerospace research and development. Doolittle served with
the Army Air Corps (1917–30), then as manager of the aviation section
for Shell Oil (1930–40). In World War II, he won fame for leading
the April 1942 bombing of Tokyo, and then as commander of a succession of
air units in Africa, the Pacific, and Europe. He was promoted to lieutenant
general in 1944. After the war he was a member of the Air Force's Scientific
Advisory Board and the President's Scientific Advisory Committee. At the
time of Sputnik he was chair of NACA (the National
Advisory Committee on Aeronautics) and the Air Force Scientific Advisory
Board. In 1985 the Senate approved his promotion in retirement to four-star
general. References
- Doolittle, General James H. (Jimmy) with Carroll V. Glines. I
Could Never Be So Lucky Again: An Autobiography. New York: Bantam
Books, 1991.
- Glines, Carroll V. Jimmy Doolittle: Daredevil Aviator and Scientist.
New York: Macmillan, 1972.
Related categories
AVIATION
PIONEERS AEROSPACE
ADMINISTRATORS
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