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Thomas C. Griffin
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Major Thomas Griffin, USAF (July 10, 1916 - February 27, 2013) was an American solider and prisoner of war during World War II. He was a member of the Doolittle Raid. Early life and education Military career Griffin graduated from university of Alabama with BA in Political Science in 1939. He entered service on July 5, 1939 as Second Lieutenant, Coast Artillery, but requested relief from active duty in 1940 to enlist as a Flying Cadet. Griffin was rated as a navigator and re-commissioned on July 1, 1940 The Doolittle Raid He volunteered for the top-secret attack of 16 B-25 medium bombers from the aircraft carrier , with targets in Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, Osaka, and Nagoya. After training at Eglin Field and Wagner Field in northwest Florida, he proceeded to the McClellan Field, California for aircraft modifications at the Sacramento Air Depot, followed by a short final flight to Naval Air Station Alameda, California for embarkation aboard USS Hornet. On April 18, all the bombers successfully took off from the Hornet, reached Japan, and bombed their targets. Fifteen of the planes then headed for their recovery airfield in China, while one crew chose to land in Russia due to their bomber's unusually high fuel consumption. As did most of the other crewmen who participated in the mission, Griffin bailed out safely over China when their bomber ran out of fuel. World War II, post-raid Griffin was shot down in North Africa in 1943. He was captured and spent the remainder of the war in the German Stalag Luft III POW camp. ,, Awards * Distinguished Flying Cross * Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, * Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. Personal life Griffin became an accountant and resided in Cincinatti, OH. He died at age 96 on February 27, 2013. Honors and awards Military honors Distinguished Flying Cross citation The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Thomas Carson Griffin (ASN: 0-377848), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Navigator of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Lieutenant Griffin with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service. 
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