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This collection includes twelve photograph albums and loose photographs covering Doolittle's varied aviation career.
James H. Doolittle's (1896-1993) piloting career spanned military aviation history and his professional contributions to the aviation field, especially in the area of instrument flying, made a lasting impact. Doolittle became an Army aviator in 1917 and received a Doctor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering degree from MIT in 1925. During the 1920s and 1930s, Doolittle won many speed, cross-country and transcontinental records and trophies and is often referred to as the "Father of Instrument Flying," because he demonstrated "instrument only flight" in 1929. He left the military in 1930 to become manager of Shell Oil Company's aviation department, but returned to the Army during World War II. During World War II, Doolittle led the first raid on the Japanese mainland in 1942, and was later promoted to the commander of the 12th, 15th, and 8th Air Forces. He returned to civilian life in 1946 and served as a trustee of aviation and space companies and as a member of numerous organizational and government boards, panels, and committees.
NASM.XXXX.0501
Doolittle, James Harold, 1896-1993
1903-1969
bulk 1920-1950
Transfer from National Air and Space Museum Aeronautics Division, 1973, NASM.XXXX.0501
10 Cubic feet (10 boxes)
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This collection includes twelve photograph albums and loose photographs covering Doolittle's varied aviation career, including images from Doolittle's trips to South America.
There are two Series: Scrapbooks and Loose Photographs. Dates, condition, and a brief description of item-level content are listed below.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
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James H. Doolittle Scrapbooks, NASM.XXXX.0501, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States
Aeronautics, Military
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Scrapbooks