One of the “Greatest Drama” TV series syndicated in1953, “The Wild Blue Yonder” focuses on General James Doolittle, better known as Jimmy Doolittle. James Harold “Jimmy” Doolittle (December 14, 1896 – September 27, 1993) was an American aviation pioneer. A Reserve officer in the United States Army Air Corps, Doolittle was recalled to active duty during World War II and awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor and leadership as commander of the Doolittle Raid, a bold long-range retaliatory air raid on the Japanese main islands weeks after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant general and commanded the Twelfth Air Force over North Africa, the Fifteenth Air Force over the Mediterranean, and the Eighth Air Force over Europe.
As the narrator tells it: “He is an Air Corps General, stunt pilot, and speed racer. This story is a record of man’s conquest of the sky and his victory over air. The story begins at an Army airfield during the First World War as seen at mark 0:48 when Doolittle was a cadet. Before been made a Cadet he saw two Army cadets crash as seen at mark 1:00. Jimmy was young newly married. At mark 1:17 is his first solo flying which he started badly but later won his wings. After the war, he remained in the air core station with Kelly Field Texas; he was happily married with an infant son and could learn plenty on aviation. At mark 1:55, Jimmy tried every stunt in his book just to know his limits and his plane’s limit. Hence he became one of the best test pilots the Army ever had. September 1922, he was about having his second child, in Florida; he was planning to fly from the Atlantic to the Pacific. At mark 2:50 he is seen making his flight and he made it, becoming the first pilot to cross the country in less than a day as seen at mark 3:00. At mark 3:10, he is decorated for that flight. At mark 3:40, they are creating a speed record for sea planes. Even with odds of crashing, he held it steady and broke the speed record and won the Schneider Cup.
At mark 4:20, a test was made which helped in the future of aviation. This is flying by instrument the first time it had ever been done and he also succeeded in landing by instrument also. His name was famous but still was an Army lieutenant. At mark 5:00, he was given an offer from a major oil refinery company which was too big to turn down. He bid his farewell to the army at mark 5:05 but still continue flying. He now pilot commercial planes as seen at mark 5:17, a flying gasoline salesman. As a civilian his job was to sell aviation gasoline and as usual his method is unorthodox as seen at mark 5:47. In 1932 as seen at mark 6:00 is a speed race in Cleveland; the fastest pilots in the world were there. Among them is Jimmy Doolittle flying a borrowed plane. At mark 6:18 is the race. At mark 6:32, Jimmy Doolittle is seen announcing another of his flight test. At mark 6:50, he set a new world record.
The Second World War begins at mark 7:10. Jimmy Doolittle went to the Pentagon to plan a daring raid on Tokyo. At mark 7:56, he is seen training the pilots for the raid. At mark 8:10, with miles away from Tokyo on their ship, a Japanese ship was sighted. They captured the Japanese crewmen. At mark 8:50, the first planes take off and one by one they all left with uncertainties on sure victory. At mark 9:40, the bombs were dropped on Tokyo and for the first time Japan tasted the terror of war. At mark 9:47, the Japanese are seen running for their lives. Bomb went on dropping until the last as seen at mark 9:50. At mark 10:17, Doolittle and his men arrived at the sanctuary of Chun King, eleven lives were lost. The survivors were decorated at mark 10:20 by Madam Chaing Kai Shek. At Washington at mark 10:45, he was given the Congressional Medal of Honor. Here he pledged to serve the nation with his life and At mark 11:00, he led an assault against Tunisia. At mark 11:13, is the Normandy invasion with his air strike. At mark 11:24, Doolittle helped to break the back of German resistance while still in command. At mark 11:35, Jimmy was in Japan with General McArthur. In war and peace as general and lieutenant, Doolittle has proven himself.
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