6 Dec.2010 Written by Barbi Ennis Connolly, 57th BW Historian and Researcher.

Someone once said that everything comes full circle…. as an Historical Researcher for WWII, in the 57th Bomb Wing, [and Historian for my Dad/Edward Ennis' 321st Bomb Group/B-25's MTO] I continue to be amazed at how much unity there is now still. Personally, I think of the Doolittle Raiders as individual people, but that's because I know 1st hand some absolutely true stories that are as human as they can be. . . most people think of "The RAIDERS" and the *Legend", Jimmy Doolittle himself ! One of the tallest Raiders in the batch, Travis Hoover was the (Ah ?) *Maid of Honor* to Lorraine as she wed (Ret. Col.) Bill Bower just prior to the Raid. Col Harvey Hinman was Bower's best man and Godfather to their son, Jimmy. Doolittle only knew friends. THAT was Jimmy Doolittle !

Jimmy himself was a brilliant man, in my research, I discovered that very early on as he 'all-of-a-sudden' lost a hand-full of his Men, he yanked them all off Flight Status, promoting them up to where they would be the True-Leaders that they were destined to be, and safe. We needed quality, and Leadership borne of voluntairly going on a dangerous Mission blindly by trusting your leader. . . not THAT is how leaders are born.

Destiny, not something we have much control of, unless you consider 'good choices'. . . . Jimmy Doolittle's GOOD CHOICES of his men was uncanny…. not one walked away and not all lived to tell the story.

Ret Col Clint Gruber was a friend of Doolittle, I imagine that we shall never know just how many friends he had, but we do know that they were themselves heroic and dependable…. HISTORY has proven this.

Barbi Ennis Connolly, WWII Historical Researcher and Historian for herDad/T/Sgt Ed Ennis (194-2005) 321st Bomb Group, B-25 Mitchells /MTO 1943-44

Clinton A Gruber