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RIP: Doolittle's Navigator Hank Potter

Posted by JohnH on Mon Jun 03, 2002 09:02:00 AM

I was sad to open up the LA Times today and read of the death of Jimmy Doolittle's navigator on the Tokyo Raid, Hank Potter... I met Potter in 1992 on the USs Ranger when they launched two B-25s to mark the 50th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid off of San Diego. In what to me now and then was a strange coincidence, I just happened to make my way up top on the island of the ship to take some photos looking down on the first 25 as it was about to take off... Standing next to me was Potter, who granted me a brief interview...as I was there to write a story for Atlantic Flyer that was also published in Wingspan in England. It was such a thrill to be there and what a great story to have met him like that!!!

JH

From Aeronews.net:

Col Henry Potter, Doolittle Raider
One of America?s first heroes of WWII died on Memorial Day of respiratory failure. Retired Air Force Col. Henry A. Potter navigated the lead aircraft in Jimmy Doolittle?s April 18, 1942, attack on Japan.
Though the raid did little damage militarily, its effect on morale was significant on both sides. For Americans, it marked the nation?s first offensive action following the Dec. 7, 1941, surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
The raid stunned the Japanese, who felt their home islands were immune to attack. As a result, the Japanese pulled many units off the front lines and reserved them for defense.
Potter, born Sept. 22, 1918, in Pierre, S.D., was commissioned in July 1941 following completion of navigator training and was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group at Pendleton, Ore. Following four months of intense training, which featured short-field takeoffs and over-water navigation, Potter and his B-25 Mitchell bomber reported aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet.
The plan was for the Hornet to maneuver to within 500 miles of Japan. Following the attack, the 16 land-based bombers would continue on into China to land at friendly airfields, from which they would continue operations against the Japanese.
Unfortunately, the Hornet was spotted by Japanese fishing boats and ?Dootlittle?s Raiders? were forced to take off 250 miles farther from Japan than planned. With the limited range of the B-25, that meant the planes would not be able to reach their landing sites in Chuchow, China.
With (then-Lt. Col.) Doolittle at the controls, Potter?s bomber was the first to lift off the crowded carrier deck, bound for Tokyo. After dropping four incendiary bombs in a manufacturing area, Potter navigated his aircraft to an escape route over the North China Sea. When the bomber finally ran out of fuel, the crew bailed out. Potter suffered the crew?s only injury -- a sprained ankle.
After rescue by Chinese troops, Potter eventually returned to the United States and the 17th BG. He completed a combat tour in North Africa, flying the B-26 Marauder, then finished the war as an instructor in B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators and B-29 Superfortresses. Potter retired from the Air Force in 1970, but remained active in the Confederate Air Force and the Doolittle Raider Association.
Surviving Raiders honor fallen comrades with a toast in a private ceremony at each annual Doolittle Raider reunion.
According to tradition, a silver goblet engraved with Potter?s name will be turned upside down to mark his death. The goblets are kept on display at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (CO), between reunions. Of the 80 goblets, 24 remain upright.
[Thanks to Tech. Sgt. Scott Elliott, Air Force Print News --ed.]
FMI: http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0801/doolsb1.html, http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0801/dool.html

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