BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD KNOBLOCH - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED 1979 - HFSID 156937

RICHARD KNOBLOCH
The Doolittle Raider wishes a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on this slip in 1979.
Autograph sentiment signed: "Merry Xmas/and a Happy New/Year/R. Knobloch/1979", 8½x2½ slip of lined paper. Signed 1979. Eighty men took off in 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers from the U.S.S. Hornet for a daring raid over Japan on April 18, 1942. Led by James "Jimmy" Doolittle, the raid, which marked the first time fully loaded bombers took off from an aircraft carrier, was in retaliation for Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. "Doolittle's Raiders" hit targets in Tokyo, Yokohama and other cities. Although it inflicted little physical damage on Japan, Doolittle's raid was a huge morale booster for the American people, who had been hearing of one defeat after another since Japan's commenced the Pacific phase of WWII, from Pearl Harbor to the surrender of the surrender of Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines (April 8, 1942). Miraculously, 72 of the 80 crew members survived, four dying on the mission and four more in Japanese captivity. In addition to the morale boost, the raid had strategic significance, solidifying support among Japanese military planners for Admiral Yamamoto's ultimately disastrous attack on Midway Island in the central Pacific. Brigadier General Richard Knobloch (1918-2001) was a co-pilot of Crew 13 in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. Following the war he became the Vice Commander of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing of the Ninth Air Force.  He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Pacific Air Forces. His 30 years in the military earned him Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Toned. Ink marks (unknown hand) at top margin. Pencil note (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.