Back in April, just before I went on grand jury service, I read in the local news paper that the Doolittle Raiders had received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor congress can bestow. Out of the 80 original airman that participated in the action, only two now survive and neither one was able to attend the award presentation on Capital Hill. On April 18, 1942 sixteen B-25 Mitchel Bombers took off from the flight deck of the carrier USS Hornet.......destination Tokyo. The United States was still reeling from the effects of the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor and both civilian and military morale was low. A boost was needed so General 'Hap' Arnold tapped Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle to lead Special Aviation Project No. 1, the bombing of Japan. Read more here...... http://www.doolittleraider.com/first_joint_action.htm Having read about these brave and heroic men I was hopeful that the US Mint would be striking a bronze rendition of the gold medal so I could add it to my collection and I was not disappointed.........http://catalog.usmint.gov/doolittle...-medal-3-inch-15MA.html?cgid=military#start=1 The obverse of the medal depicts a B-25B Mitchel Bomber taking off from the USS Hornet along with 16 stars representing the 16 crews that participated in the operation. The inscriptions read, 'Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, 'First Strike' and April 18, 1942'. The reverse design depicts three 'Mitchel's' approaching their target along with the four patches that represented the elements of the 17th Bombardment Group participating in the action. The inscriptions are '17th Bombardment Group', Toujours Au Danger (ever into danger), and 'Act of Congress 2014. Obverse Designer: Chris Costello Obverse Engraver: Don Everhart Reverse Designer: Donna Weaver Reverse Engraver: Joseph Menna
Just to add, the mint also produces these in 1.5" at a considerable cost savings but I just had to have the 'fat boy'.
The details are few...how large is the medal? (or is it a "standard" size that I should know without having to ask?) Rob
I was at Naval Postgraduate School from 1985 through 1987, and had the great good fortune to attend a small (eight person) dinner party with General Doolittle in Carmel Valley, CA. He was charming, entertaining, and deaf as a doorknob from being around airplanes all of his life! I will never forget that night, and I look forward to telling my grandchildren about him. It's the closest I will ever come to touching history.
I'm not sure about the rest but you'll notice on the right the emblem for the 95 Bombardment Squadron - they're still active but today as a reconnaissance squadron. Stationed out of Offut currently, but they have detachment elsewhere. They go back to at least WWI as the 95th Aero Squadron.
