Last update: 14 August 2023

Crew 02

Second plane to take off from the USS Hornet on 18 April 1942

Datasheet

- Aircraft Squadron:	37th Bomb Squadron
- Serial number plane:	40-2292
- Name of the plane:	The plane had no name - no individual markings
- Take off date:	18 April 1942
- Take off time:	Take off @ 08.25 am ship time USS Hornet
- Place in line to take off:	2nd
- Take off direction:	Take off @ about 35 40 N 153 40 E
- Bombs on board:	1 cluster incendiary + 3 demolition bombs
- Bombed area in Japan:	Ogu (Tokio)
- Bombing of Japan - local time:	12:20 pm
- Fate crew - 18 april 1942:	Crash wheel landing in a paddy rice field - 09:30 pm
- Fate plane - 18 april 1942:	Crash wheel landing south east of Ningbo, China

The Crew

Mixed crew : 95th Bombarment Squadron - 37th Bombardment Squadron

Target

Ogu (Tokio)

The story of Crew 02

The first bomb was dropped @ 35 45 09 N 139 46 16 E This was the first bombed dropped on Japan by a Doolittle Radier’s plane. Crew 2 dropped their bombs earlier then Jimmy Doolittle’s plane. Second and third bombs dropped @ 35 45 06 N 139 46 09 E and 35 45 07 N 139 46 08 E Bombing height about 900 feet (= 274 meter) much lower as planned (1500 feet or 450 meter) Bombs were dropped manually by Lieutenant Richard Miller.

Plane 2/crew 2 followed plane 1/crew 1 over Japan to the coast of China but in the dark plane 2 lost plane 1 while flying. Left motor started to sputter above China and the crew did not bail out but Travis Hoover was able to land his plane (on wheel landing) in a paddy rice field near Ningbo @ about 29°44'04.3"N 121°50'33.5"E

Province : Zhejian province - China

No injuries. Landed in occupied China but stayed out of Japanese hands.

Rainy, cloudy and misty weather during the first night.

Crew took several usefull things out of the plane with them. Putted the plane fire and walked away from it.

Crew 2 was guided into free China as after walking for 3 days they were found by Chinese resisitance.

Arrived in Chongqing, China on 14 may 1942.

Lieutenant Richard Miller KIA on 22 January 1943 in North Africa during a bombing raid. He was reburied in Killeen, Texas.

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Pictures copyright @ nara-usa - public domain

Crew picture : copyright @nara-usa - public domain - colored by : Our colorful history @ https://www.facebook.com/historyrestored - used with permission - Thank you so much for the wonderful crew pictures.