The Ruptured Duck (B-25)

For the pin nicknamed the "Ruptured duck", see Honorable Service lapel pin.

"The Ruptured Duck"
Pacific Aviation Museum B-25 display aircraft in the color scheme of "The Ruptured Duck"
Role	Bomber (B-25 Mitchell)
Manufacturer	North American Aviation
Primary user	United States Army Air Forces

"The Ruptured Duck" was the nickname of a World War II North American Aviation B-25B Mitchell medium bomber (S/N 40-2261) piloted by Lt. Ted W. Lawson of the 95th Bombardment Squadron, USAAF. The aircraft was one of sixteen B-25B's which participated in the Doolittle Raid on Japan commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (later General) Jimmy Doolittle. After bombing Tokyo on April 18, 1942, Lawson ditched "The Ruptured Duck" in the sea near Shangchow, China due to being unable to find a landing field on the mainland because of rain and darkness. A different B-25 is on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in the colors and livery of "The Ruptured Duck" (another B-25B, painted and marked as Doolittle's aircraft, is on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, Ohio).

Preparations for the Doolittle Raid

Main article: Doolittle Raid

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, a reprisal air raid on Japan was urged by President Roosevelt. After considering other aircraft types, Doolittle (named as planner of the raid by Army Air Forces chief Gen Henry H. Arnold) chose the relatively new B-25B, and a total of 24 such bombers were selected to participate in the mission. Only sixteen would eventually attack Japan; the others were spares used during training.

The bombers were detached from the 17th Bomb Group (Medium), based at Lexington County Army Air Base, Columbia, South Carolina. In early 1942 the aircraft were sent to the Mid-Continent Airlines modification center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for installation of additional fuel tanks. The aircraft were further modified by:

• Removal of the lower gun turret
• Installation of de-icers and anti-icers
• Steel blast plates mounted on the fuselage around the upper turret
• Removal of the liaison radio set
• Installation of three additional fuel tanks and support mounts in the bomb bay, crawlway and lower turret area to increase fuel capacity from 646 to 1,141 U.S. gallons (2,445 to 4,319 litres)
• Mock wooden gun barrels installed in the tail cone, and
• Replacement of their Norden bombsight with a makeshift aiming device.

Two bombers also had cameras installed to record the raid's bombing results.

Volunteer crews from the 17th Bomb Group, including Lt. Lawson, were gathered together in Columbia for an unspecified "extremely hazardous" mission. The 24 crews selected then picked up the modified bombers in Minneapolis and flew them to Eglin Field, Florida, beginning 1 March 1942. At Eglin, the crews received three weeks of intensive training in aircraft carrier deck takeoffs, low-level and night flying, low altitude bombing, and overwater navigation.

Lt. Col Doolittle stated in his after action report that an operational level of training was reached despite several days when flying was not possible because of rain and fog.

Origins of the name

Honorable Service Lapel Button

During a practice run, Lawson scraped the bottom of his plane's tail when he rotated the nose of the bomber too high before attaining takeoff speed. The following is from Lawson's book Thirty Seconds over Tokyo (Random House pub. 1943). "One morning I came out to my plane and found that somebody had chalked the words 'RUPTURED DUCK' on the side of the fuselage. I grabbed Corporal Lovelace, a gunner I knew, and asked him to paint some sort of design on the ship. He's a good caricaturist. Lovelace got out his stuff and painted a funny Donald Duck, with a head-set and the earphone cords all twisted around his head. Lovelace did a swell job in blue, yellow, white and red. Then he added something that gave all of us another laugh. Under Donald Duck he drew a couple of crossed crutches. The other boys now got busy with insignias."^[1]

The origins of the name, "The Ruptured Duck" referred to a patch (later an Honorable Service Lapel Button) worn on the uniform of returning veterans, explained K.T. Budde-Jones, Pacific Aviation Museum director of education. "It meant they were being discharged and said, 'I'm not AWOL, I'm allowed to wear this uniform until I get my civilian clothes.' And of course everyone wanted one because it meant you were going home. The patch was of an eagle in a wreath, but everyone thought it looked like a duck, a ruptured duck."^[2]

Although "The Ruptured Duck" became the most well-known of the Doolittle Raid aircraft because of Lawson's book and a 1943 movie of the same name, seven other bombers carried distinctive nose art and individual aircraft names: "Whiskey Pete" (aircraft No. 3), "Green Hornet" (aircraft No. 6), "Whirling Dervish" (aircraft No. 9), "Hari Kari-er" (aircraft No. 11) "Fickle Finger" (aircraft No. 12) and "(The) Bat Out of Hell" (aircraft No. 16). Doolittle's personal aircraft, S/N 40-2344, carried no special markings.

The Doolittle Raid

In the foreground on the deck of the USS Hornet is "The Ruptured Duck" (aircraft No. 7), tail No. 40-2261.

As a result of the operational training, one other aircraft was heavily damaged in a takeoff accident, and another was taken off the mission because of a nose wheel shimmy that could not be repaired in time.

On 25 March, the remaining 22 B-25s took off from Eglin for McClellan Field, California. They arrived on 27 March for final modifications at the Sacramento Air Depot. A total of 16 B-25s were ultimately selected to fly the mission and were flown to Alameda, California, on 31 March to be loaded aboard the USS Hornet. Initially, only 15 planes were planned as the attacking force, but a 16th aircraft, by last minute agreement with the Navy, was squeezed onto the deck. This aircraft was to be launched shortly after departure from San Francisco to provide feedback to the Army pilots about carrier takeoff characteristics. Once underway, however, Doolittle decided to forego that flight.

The attack on Japan

On the morning of 18 April 1942, the USS Hornet launched its 16 B-25s 170 miles (275 km) farther from Japan than planned, due to a Japanese picket boat spotting the American fleet. (The 16th bomber was made part of the mission force at the last minute.) Despite the fact that none of the B-25 pilots had ever taken off from an actual carrier deck before, all 16 aircraft launched safely.

The Ruptured Duck flies over a burning Tokyo in Thirty Seconds over Tokyo

The raiders flew towards Japan in sections of three-four aircraft before changing to single-file at wavetop level to avoid detection.^[3] After bombing 10 military and industrial targets in Tokyo where Lawson dropped his bombs, the other targets were two sites in Yokohama, and one each in Yokosuka, Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka. Subsequently, 15 of the 16 bombers proceeded southwest along the southern coast of Japan and across the East China Sea towards eastern China. One B-25, extremely low on fuel, headed instead for the closer land mass of Russia.

With night approaching and weather rapidly deteriorating, the aircraft were also running low on fuel. Lawson realized he would probably not be able to reach the intended "safe" bases in China. Like other crews who decided on either abandoning their aircraft by bailing out or crash-landing on the coast, the mission of "The Ruptured Duck" ended prematurely when Lawson crash-landed off the coast near Shangchow, China.

Lawson lost a leg and suffered other serious injuries as a result of his crash landing, but like most of the B-25 crews that came down in China, eventually made it to safety with the help of Chinese civilians and soldiers. Rather than considering the Doolittle Raid a failure, the U.S. government awarded the survivors a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Aftermath

The nose art of "The Ruptured Duck" being recreated by famed Pacific Theater nose artist, Hal Olsen.

The Doolittle Raid was the subject of two 1944 feature films including Thirty Seconds over Tokyo based on a book of the same title by Captain Lawson (promoted after his return to duty). Spencer Tracy played Doolittle and Van Johnson portrayed Lawson in an accurate depiction of the mission. Throughout both the book and film, "The Ruptured Duck" formed the backdrop of the Doolittle Raid. Over the years, the imagery of Lawson's aircraft became identified closely with the Doolittle Raiders. Recently, the Pacific Aviation Museum – Pearl Harbor opened its doors and one of its premier displays was a Doolittle Raiders B-25 marked in the colors of Lt. Lawson's "The Ruptured Duck."^[4]

Crew of "The Ruptured Duck"

Ted W. Lawson

Main article: Ted W. Lawson

Ted W. Lawson was the pilot. Lawson was born 7 March 1917 in Fresno, California and attended Los Angeles City College. He joined the Army Air Corps in March 1940.

Crew No. 7, front row left to right: Lt. Ted W. Lawson, Lt. Dean Davenport; rear row left to right: Lt. Charles L. McClure, Lt. Robert S. Clever, and Sgt. David J. Thatcher

After the Doolittle Raid, he authored Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, an account of his participation in the Doolittle Raid. The book was subsequently adapted into a film of the same name.

Later in the war, he served as Liaison Officer, U.S. Air Mission, Santiago, Chile from May 1943 until April 1944. He was retired for physical disability on 2 February 1945. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.

Lawson owned and operated a machine shop in Southern California, as well as working for Reynolds Metals as liaison between the company and the military. He died in his home in Chico, California on 19 January 1992. He was portrayed in the movie "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" by Van Johnson.

Dean Davenport

Dean Davenport was Lawson's co-pilot. He was born on 29 June 1918 in Spokane. He graduated from Portland High School in Portland, Oregon, in 1937. He studied law at Albany and Northwestern colleges in Portland until he enlisted as a Flying Cadet in the USAAF on 7 February 1941. He graduated from Advanced Flying School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 27 September 1941.

Davenport was injured during the crash-landing in China after the raid. He managed to evade capture with the help of friendly Chinese. After successful escape and recuperation, he returned from India in October, 1942. He was later technical advisor for the film Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Davenport served in Alaska, flying P-40 Warhawk, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang aircraft from 1944 until 1947. He had been commanding officer of several fighter units and also commanded an Air Defense Command unit in the 1960s flying F-106 Delta Dart jet interceptors.

He also served in Korea and flew 86 combat missions and rose to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. Davenport died on 14 February 2000 in Panama City, Florida, aged 81. Tim Murdock played the part of Dean in "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo."

Charles McClure

Charles L. McClure, (4 October 1916 – 19 January 1999) was Lawson's navigator. He graduated University City High School, University City, Missouri and attended the University of Missouri. He enlisted as a Flying Cadet on 12 October 1940 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and graduated from navigator training and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on 5 December 1941.

McClure dislocated both of his shoulders in the crash after the raid and was hospitalized until June 1943. He was assigned duties as a navigator instructor and again hospitalized from February 1945 until June 1945. He was retired for physical disability on June 1945 with the rank of captain. His decorations include Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. In "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," his part was played by Don DeFore.

Robert Clever

Robert Stevenson Clever (22 May 1914 – 20 November 1942) was Lawson's bombardier. Clever enlisted as Aviation Cadet at Vancouver Barracks, Washington on 15 March 1941 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant with the rating of bombardier on 16 December 1941 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. He was injured during the crash-landing in China. After returning to the United States, he was stationed at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana when he was killed in an aircraft crash near Versailles, Ohio on 20 November 1942.

Clever had risen to the rank of first lieutenant prior to his death. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. He was portrayed in the movie by Herbert Gunn (as Gordon McDonald).

David Thatcher

David J. Thatcher (born 31 July 1921), was the only enlisted crew member and served as the flight engineer/gunner. Thatcher was born in Bridger, Montana. Upon his high school graduation, He enlisted on 3 December 1940 and completed the Airplane and Engine Mechanic Course in Lincoln, Nebraska in December 1941.

Thatcher was the only crew member to avoid serious injury when "The Ruptured Duck" crash-landed just off the China coast, enabling him to help the rest of the crew evade capture.

Upon returning to the United States, Thatcher later served in England and Africa until January 1944. He was discharged from active duty in July 1945 after stateside assignments in California. Thatcher reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. His decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.^[5]

Thatcher is the last survivor of the crew. As of January 2011, only 5 out of the original 80 raiders are still alive. He was portrayed in the 1944 film, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo by actor Robert Walker.

Notes

1. ^ Lawson 2004
2. ^ Talento, Catherine. "WWII veteran's artwork lives on at museum." Air Force News Agency, 25 April 2007. Retrieved: 10 February 2008.
3. ^ Watson 1950, p. 20.
4. ^ "Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Grand Opening." Western Air Museum, 23 April 2007.
5. ^ "David J. Thatcher, 19019573, Staff Sergeant Engineer-Gunner Crew 7." Doolittle Raider. Retrieved: July 23, 2011.

References

• Chun, Clayton K.S. The Doolittle Raid 1942: America's First Strike Back at Japan (Campaign: 16). Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey, 2006. ISBN 1-84176-918-5.
• Glines, Carroll V. The Doolittle Raid: America's Daring First Strike Against Japan. New York: Orion Books, 1988. ISBN 0-88740-347-6.
• Glover, Charles E. "Jimmy Doolittle’s One Moment in Time." The Palm Beach Post, 18 April 1992.
• Lawson, Ted. W. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Secaucus, New Jersey: Pocket Star, 2004 (reprint). ISBN 0-74347-433-3.
• Watson, Charles Hoyt. DeShazer: The Doolittle Raider Who Turned Missionary. Winona Lake, Indiana: The Light and Life Press, 1950.

External links

United States Air Force portal

• Official Doolittle Raiders site
• WWII nose art panel reproductions
• Profile image of Doolittle's aircraft
• Wright Patterson site
• "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" The Halsey-Doolittle Raid