MY DISTANT COUSIN ON MY Dads side A Doolittle Raider Crew of 12th Aircraft Plane # 40-2278 - Fickle Finger - Crew from 37th Squadron, 17th Group - (Bail Out) Lieutenant Bower and crew successfully bombed the Ogura refinery, two factories and a large warehouse along the docks at Yokohama. This they accomplished despite two enemy fighters that trailed them inland, and a series of barrage balloons over their target. On their flight to reach China flew over a Japanese weather boat. They strafed and sank it before flying on to bail out over China Sergeant Duquette broke his foot when he parachuted to the ground and was transported in a sedan carried by local Chinese as the entire crew traveled to join up with Lieutenant Joyces crew from the 10th aircraft. Both crews reached Chuhsien four days later. Pilot Lt. W.M. Bower Co-Pilot Lt. T. Blanton Navigator Lt. W.R. Pound Jr. Bombardier TSgt. W.J. Bither Engineer Gunner SSgt. O.A. Duquette .....who is a distant cousin of my Dad...SSgt Omer A. Duquette (center) did make it back to the states, and went back into action. Was killed on June 3, 1942 when plane crashed into mountain after bombing Lashio, Burma while en route to Kunming, China. Decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. Born January 25, 1916 West Warwick, Rhode Island Killed in action June 3, 1942 Sergeant Duquette was KIA six weeks after the raid when his plane crashed into a mountain while returning from a bombing mission MIA Lashio, Burma. Tablets of the Missing Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines Monument in the town square of Phoenix, RI
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 15:36:11 +0000
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