We wish to express our gratitude to all those who helped on these memoirs. We are especially indebted to John Doolittle, his devoted wife, Priscilla, and Celeste Ventura for their never-faltering encouragement and their efforts in locating background materials that facilitated recall of many of the incidents and experiences related here. Their editorial suggestions and those of Mary Ellen Glines provided a very helpful review throughout the writing process.
We are also grateful for the assistance rendered by the curators at the Library of Congress, the National Air and Space Museum, the Air Force Academy, the Arizona Historical Society, and Western Reserve University, and the personnel of the Office of Air Force History who made appropriate files and photographs available for study. Of special help was Duane J. Reed of the Air Force Academy, who provided access to the Doolittle family photo albums donated to the academy library, and William Madsen, retired public affairs specialist, for his photocopying work.
The public relations staffs of TRW, Aerospace Corporation, Space Technology Laboratories, and Mutual of Omaha responded promptly and efficiently to our requests for background information. So did General Larry D. Welch, chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, and Admiral James B. Busey, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, when we requested copies of military and civilian pilot files. And we appreciate the interest taken by many former Air Force personnel who provided materials and anecdotes, especially Lieutenant Colonel George M. Epperson, a former intelligence officer in the 8th Air Force during World War II.
Special thanks are reserved for Senator Barry M. Goldwater for continually encouraging the writing of these memoirs and for granting an interview while he was recovering from his fourth hip operation.
JAMES H. DOOLITTLE
AND CARROLL V. GLINES