Learning Center
Our Enshrinees
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Pilot, Record Setter, & Military Leader
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Enshrined: 1967
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Birth: December 14, 1896
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Death: September 27, 1993
James “Jimmy” Doolittle
- Directed experimental flying at McCook Field.
- Made the first air crossing of the U.S. in under 24 hours in 1922.
- Won the Schneider Cup Seaplane Race in 1925 and made the first outside loop in 1927.
- Made the world’s first totally blind flight on September 24, 1929.
- Won the Thompson Trophy in 1932 flying the Gee Bee R-1 at a speed of 296 mph saying it was the most dangerous airplane he ever flew.
- Flew in the National Air Races, winning the Transport, the Bendix, and the Thompson Trophy races.
- Lead the famous B-25 Tokyo raid in April 1942 from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet for which he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
- Commanded the 12th Air Force in North Africa and the Eighth Air Force in England from 1944 to 1945.
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Pilot, Record Setter, & Military Leader
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Enshrined: 1967
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Birth: December 14, 1896
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Death: September 27, 1993
Annual Membership Meeting
The National Aviation Hall of Fame is excited to announce its Annual Membership Meeting scheduled for November 30, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Members are invited to join this significant gathering, where key updates and future plans will be discussed. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow aviation aficionados and learn more about the hall’s endeavors for the upcoming year.