Doolittle Raider Nolan Herndon dies at 88 in S.C.

myrtlebeachonline.com ^ | Mon, Oct. 08, 2007

[ought-six]

I’ve read several books on the Doolittle Raid. Truly one of the gutsiest raids in history.

RIP noble warrior.

[wastedyears]

Great bunch of men.

[wastedyears]

[NonValueAdded]

Rest in peace, Nolan Herndon

[wastedyears]

I was debating that picture or something.

[angkor]

The Doolittle Raid will always be one of the “ballsiest” expressions of American willpower. May our country always keep this spirit !!!

I have a penciled Doolittle autograph literally one foot from my reach right now. My father got it from Doolittle (whom he instantly recognized) while he was bartendering at one of the country clubs outside NYC (not Westchester). Dad joined the Navy between VE Day and VJ Day.

Doolittle was a major revered hero of the war.

[Obie Wan]

I have a penciled Doolittle autograph literally one foot from my reach right now.

What a treasure. Wish I had one !!!

[Ready4Freddy]

I wonder if Mr Herndon is in this pic somewhere:

Pic captioned "Orders in hand, Navy Capt. Marc A. Mitscher, skipper of the USS Hornet (CV-8) chats with Lt. Col. James Doolittle, leader of the Army Air Forces attack group. This group of fliers carried the battle of the Pacific to the heart of the Japanese empire with a daring raid on military targets in major Japanese cities. It was the result of coordination between the two services. The USS Hornet carried the 16 North American B-25 bombers to within take-off distances of the Japanese Islands. (U.S.Navy photo)"

[Ready4Freddy]

I’ve got one of Ed White above my desk. I was in 4th grade when I got it. He carpooled us 3 times a week.

[fieldmarshaldj]

eBay is your friend:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gen-James-Jimmy-Doolittle-Medal-Of-Honor-Signed-Photo_W0QQitemZ320166763023QQihZ011QQcategoryZ14428QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gen-Jimmy-Doolittle-Autograph_W0QQitemZ200159937748QQihZ010QQcategoryZ585QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[GregoTX]

I met a Doolittle Raider in 2005. I talked with him for about 25 minutes, and got a signed print of his unit insignia. It is signed R.E. Cole. It is a historical treasure to me.

[wastedyears]

Keep that protected for life. Pass it on as a treasure.

[iowamark]

Lt. Herndon was on the plane that landed near Vladivostok. The Russians, not then at war with Japan, interned the crew for over a year.

Captain York's B25 had suffered engine problems prior to the loading of the aircraft on the Hornet, and the flight to Japan compounded this. Despite heavy fuel consumption by both engines, York continued on course to drop his bombs on their assigned targets. Throughout the run the aircraft was defenseless with a top turret that failed to work. Without enough fuel to reach China, Cpt. York elected to fly the shorter distance to Russia where he landed at a field near Vladivostok in hopes of refueling to reach China. Instead, the still neutral Soviets confiscated the bomber and interred the crew for thirteen months. The crew returned home in May 1943 after escaping into Persia.

[GonzoGOP]

They gave us hope when our nation was mired in despair.

They showed the American people that victory was possible.

More importantly they showed the Japanese people that defeat was possible. And it was the latter that convinced Yamamoto that he had to go after the American carriers right away and not wait for the two flattops damaged at Coral Sea to be repaired. Had he brought Shokaku and Zuikaku to Midway we almost certainly would have lost the battle and likely the whole Western Pacific.

Herndon and the men who flew with him probably saved this nation, or at least shortened the war by a couple of years.

[lunarbicep]

Left to right: Lt. Nolan A. Herndon (navigator-bombardier), Capt. Edward J. York (pilot), S/Sgt. Theodore H. Laban (engineer), Lt. Robert G. Emmens (co-pilot), Sgt. David W. Pohl (gunner)

*a much larger picture available here: http://www.doolittleraider.com/images/Crew%2008.jpg

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My dad met Doolittle in Japan on one of his tours after the war. He didn't think to get his autograph.
I'm glad Dad wasn't around to see this short, bald, wiry little man portrayed by the revolting, fleshy Alec Baldwin a few years ago. He would have laughed out loud.

[angkor]

I talked with the Doolittle Museum at Travis AFB a few weeks ago and am trying to get my Dad to do a little writeup and some other tweaks, I’d like to donate it to them where I know it’ll properly cared for.

[Obie Wan]

Nice gesture on your part. I guess you could get some bucks on eBay for it but I like your style !!!

[angkor]

$100. For Doolittle.

Feh.

[lunarbicep]

According to the website there are 12 crew members still alive.

the surviving members:

William M. Bower

Richard E. Cole

Jacob D. DeShazer

Thomas C. Griffin

Robert L. Hite

Edwin W. Horton, Jr.

David M. Jones

Frank A. Kappeler

James H. Macia

Charles J. Ozuk

Edward J. Saylor

David J. Thatcher