Remembrance of the Shangrao Military & Civilian Rescue of the Doolittle Raiders during WWII

April 18, 2024
Special exhibit

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In response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and in order to boost the confidence of the United States to fight against the Japanese fascists, on April 18, 1942, 16 USAAF B-25 bombers of Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle’s Flying Squadron bombed Tokyo in a surprise raid. After the mission was completed, 15 planes were forced to land in China. Seven planes made forced landings in Shangrao and several other places of Jiangxi province. 22 American pilots were rescued by the courageous Jiangxi people. The Japanese army launched the Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign, causing the casualties of some 250,000 civilian Chinese.

Though separated by the Pacific Ocean, the Doolittle raiders and their descendants in the United States never forget the Chinese people's contribution. They have established the “Children of the Doolittle Raiders” group to celebrate the Doolittle Raid's victory and remember those Chinese rescuers who risked their lives to provide assistance. Many of the raiders’ children have embarked on the journey to retrace their fathers’ footsteps in China. General Doolittle wrote: “It’s my sincere hope that our young generation will never forget the sacrifices made by the American and Chinese people during the World War II.”

This year marks the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and the 82nd Anniversary of Shangrao Rescue of the Doolittle Raid. For decades, the historical tales of the Doolittle Raid and its Shangrao rescue have passed down from generation to generation in both China and the United States, with lasting charms. Let's follow the camera, travel across time and space, and recall those touching stories of the heros during the tumultuous times, so as to remember the history, pass on the friendship, and create the future together.