40th Anniv use of Mitchell By RAF Signed Gen Doolittle, Col Emmens Co -Pilot Doolittle Raid Air Force Postal Service APO postmark. N A Mitchell RAF FDC 40th Anniversary of the First Operational Use of the Mitchell by the Royal Air Force. Cover depicts Lt Col Doolittle in USAAF NA Mitchell 02344 bombing shipping in Tokyo Harbour on 18 April 1942 and 320 Squadron Royal Netherlands Air Force badge. The North American B25 Mitchell entered service with the USAAF in 1941 and in 1943 the first of over 800 Mitchell entered service with the RAF and were used extensively by Bomber Command and later the 2nd Tactical Air Force. The Mitchell is best remembered for the attack led by General Doolittle USAAF on Tokyo on 18th April 1942. Personally Signed by General Doolittle The 15 Mitchells took off from US Carrier Hornet and all ran out of fuel over China and crash landed. Of the 75 Aircrew, General Doolittle and 59 others returned to American Units, 5 died accidentally and the other 10 were captured and tried by the Japanese, of these 3 were executed, 1 died in prison and 6 were released at the end of the War. General Doolittle later commanded the USAAFs 12th Air Force in North Africa, 15th in Italy and the 8th in England from 1944 and the Pacific from 1945. Also Signed by Col Robert G Emmens. A member of the famous Tokyo Raiders who bombed the Japanese capital four months after Pearl Harbor led by General Doolittle spent year and 2 months interned in the Soviet Union. Photo and details of General Doolittle enclosed. Flown in 1st Tac Recon Sqn from RAF Alconbury to the Italian Air Force Base at Aviano in Italy Phantom RF4C No 580 pilot Captain S Gruca USAF. The cover was reflown on Christmas Eve 1983 in a Lockheed TR 1 of the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron, 17th Reconnaissance Wing, whilst on a routine training sortie from Alconbury. Pilot Major T Evans Aircraft TR1 070 Flight Time 9 + hours. Photo and details of General Doolittle enclosed. Certified Copy no 1097 of 1470 Signed project Officer. Very few Signed also by Col Emmens. Signed project Officer. Good Condition. All autographs are genuine hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £4.99, EU from £6.99, Rest of World from £8.99