Ted W. Lawson

Ted W. Lawson, 0-399540, Major, United States Army Air Force, born March 7, 1917, died January 19, 1992.

Related Topics:
Major - United States Army Air Force - March 7 - 1917 - January 19 - 1992

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Lawson was born in Fresno, California and attended Los Angeles Junior College. He joined the Army Air Corps in March, 1940 while employed by Douglas Aircraft Company and received his pilot's wings and 2nd Lt. commission on November 15, 1940. He was the pilot of one of the 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers, the "Ruptured Duck", in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. He and most of his crew were seriously injured and he had his leg amputated in the field as a result of the crash landing in China.

Related Topics:
Fresno - California - Los Angeles - Douglas Aircraft Company - B-25 - Ruptured Duck - Doolittle Raid - Tokyo

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He authored Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo in 1943, the story of the mission and his crew, which was also made into a popular movie in 1944. After leaving the hospital, he served as Liaison Officer, U.S. Air Mission, Santiago, Chile from May, 1943 until April, 1944. He was retired for physical disability on February 2, 1945. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.

Related Topics:
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo - 1943 - 1944 - February 2 - 1945 - Distinguished Flying Cross - Purple Heart - Air Corps Medal

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