The Gentleman Racer occasionally posts a historical look at someone or something, and he sure does a great job, here's a couple of Doolittle's planes - just terrific looking designs
By any account Doolittle was a genuine pioneer of the aviation enterprise. The early years were indeed a heady period of the venture, often resulting in the demise of many who embraced it. Because of so many aviation tragedies there was a sentiment that opposed flying. After Knute Rockne died in an airplane crash (1931) there were even voices in Congress that wanted to outlaw the business. (See The Plane That Changed the World: A Biography of the DC-3, by Douglas J. Ingells). Fortunately, there was a remnant with hair on their posterior parts that weighed in pounds that pressed on. James Harold Doolittle was one of them. I can only imagine his delight when someone might have asked if it were feasible to fly a bunch of bombers off the deck of a flat top. Piece of cake.
By any account Doolittle was a genuine pioneer of the aviation enterprise. The early years were indeed a heady period of the venture, often resulting in the demise of many who embraced it. Because of so many aviation tragedies there was a sentiment that opposed flying. After Knute Rockne died in an airplane crash (1931) there were even voices in Congress that wanted to outlaw the business. (See The Plane That Changed the World: A Biography of the DC-3, by Douglas J. Ingells). Fortunately, there was a remnant with hair on their posterior parts that weighed in pounds that pressed on. James Harold Doolittle was one of them. I can only imagine his delight when someone might have asked if it were feasible to fly a bunch of bombers off the deck of a flat top. Piece of cake.
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