James H. Doolittle (1896-1993) General. Doolittle planned and led the first attack on the Japanese Home Islands in 1942. The “Doolittle Raid” demonstrated that Japan was vulnerable to American air attack, and it provided an expedient means for American retaliation for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. As did most of the other crewmen who participated in the mission, Doolittle's crew bailed out safely over China when their bomber ran out of fuel. Doolittle was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism. 7 ¼” x 10 ¼” sheet of his personal stationery signed, “J. H. Doolittle.”