[Iris7]

A negative statement about rear eschelon high brass.

The Doolittle B-25s had their engines recalibrated by the factory's best working with the AAF's best. The aircraft engines were tuned for the altitude flown - good old flight profile, range, load, all the variables. Special parts were fitted. The engines were expected to last for the mission and not a minute longer. All correct.

The men and machines left Florida for Long Beach on schedule, stopping in Texas to refuel. The commander of the base found out about the "unauthorized" modifications, impounded the aircraft and returned them to "authorized" configuration. This delay nearly blew the mission. The senior officer of the flight couldn't get Doolittle on the horn, remember long distance telephone was nearly unknown in 1942. Western Union was all there was.

The aircraft were launched within the preplanned window, but with significantly less range. The crews knew that they did not have enough gas.

Read this story in some newspaper about ten years ago, on April 18th. I think it is true. Doolittle would not waste his men. Evil bastard, that Texas airbase commander.

[snippy_about_it]

I vaguely remember hearing that about the raid. Not sure if it's true. No time to research right now.

[colorado tanker]

The First Heroes has the same story, Iris, although I can't remember where it happened, I was thinking California. The way that book tells the story, the base personnel weren't deliberately messing up the engines and thought they were doing the right thing. Of course, there was no time to correct it.

[colorado tanker]

Iris, I checked First Heroes this evening. The raiders did spend the night at Kelly Field in San Antonio going cross country, but the book indicates the maintenance incident happened at McClellan Field in Sacramento.

Interesting detail: After learning of the carburetor fiasco and preparing to leave, then Col. Doolittle was asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire about the service he had received. He just scrawled "Lousy!" across the page and flew off. The ops officer told one of the raider pilots: "Who is that guy? I can tell you, he is heading for a lot of trouble!" The pilot replied, "He sure is." LOL!