Doolittle Raid Pilot: The Story of Captain Donald Smith, Survivor of the Bombing of Tokyo in 1942

Donald Gregory Smith’s early years were shaped by trauma.He was 5 years old when his mother died, following which he was placed in an orphanage by his father.Despite this background, in 1940, Donald earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota.After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry, but his passion led him to a career in aviation.By March 1941, through sheer determination and discipline Smith had completed his flight training and became a pilot in the Army Air Corps. In 1942, he was selected for a top-secret mission led by Lieutenant Colonel James H.Doolittle: a surprise bombing raid on Japan in retaliation for Pearl Harbor.The story follows Smith during his embarkation aboard the USS Hornet, alongside fifteen other B-25 Mitchell crews.During training, he successfully lifted off after only eighty-seven meters - the shortest take-off of all the Raiders. On 18 April 1942, the day of the infamous Doolittle Raid, Donald’s cre