Last update: 19 August 2023

Crew 09

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

Datasheet

- Aircraft Squadron:	34th Bomb Squadron
- Serial number plane:	40-2303
- Name of the plane:	Whirling Dervish - individual marking : Tornado cartoon
- Take off date:	18 April 1942
- Take off time:	Take off @ 08.50 am ship time USS Hornet
- Place in line to take off:	9th
- 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:	Shinagawa - Tokio
- Bombing of Japan - local time:	01:05 pm
- Fate crew - 18 april 1942:	Bailed out above China - 10:30 pm
- Fate plane - 18 april 1942:	Crash north west of Shangrao, China

The Crew

34th Bomb Squadron as part of the 17th Bombardment Group

Target

Shinagawa - Tokio

The story of Crew 09

Dropped their 4 bombs in Tokyo areas and the bombing was effective. A bomb was dropped coordinates 35 35 57 N 139 43 42 E

During the flight to Tokio, the crew determined that they had a fuel leak where the lower gun turret normally was. This was removed and a fuel bag was put in its place.

The crew agreed what they would do if they ran out of fuel above the sea. It was agreed that they would make an emergency landing at sea near a small boat. They would then swim to the boat and take over the boat and take it all the way to the Chinese coast. Fortunately this action was not necessary. They jumped out of their plane about 100 miles south (160 km) from Lake Payong. In the Jiangxi province.

They ended up in the mountains with Chinese mountain people and were transported to Chongqing over Hengyan 26.87039727048063, 112.61211275143616 Then they arrived in Chongqing. The pilot was injured after he jumped out of the plane. He was taken to Chonqing in free China by rickshaw because he could no longer walk.

The crew arrived in Chongqing the first week of May.

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Picture 1 : Pilot Watson of crew 9 revovering from injuries after he jumped out of his plane above China. June 1942 - Walter Reed hospital. With Major Genaral Hamon Millard.

Picture 2 : Armorers preparing the Doolittle Raid bombers aboard USS Hornet, 18 Apr 1942.

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.