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| USAAF 12th AF 17th BG 95th BS |
Pilot Lt. Ted W. Lawson, O-399549 (WIA, survived) Co-Pilot Lt. Dean Davenport, O-427310 (WIA, survived) Navigator Lt. Chas. L. McClure, O-431647 (WIA, survived) Bombardier Lt. Robert S. Clever, O-432336 (WIA, survived) Portland, OR Engineer Sgt. David J. Thatcher, 19019573 (WIA, survived) Ditched April 18, 1942 "Doolittle Raid" MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 62B-2930. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25B Mitchell serial number 40-2261. Wartime History Assigned to the 17th Bombardment Group, 95th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Ruptured Duck" with nose art of Disney Donald Duck character with crossed crutches. One of sixteen B-25's assigned to the "Doolittle Raid". Mission History On April 18, 1942 took off at 8:43am from the USS Hornet (CV-8) piloted by Lt. Ted W. Lawson as aircraft number seven (no. 7) of sixteen bombers on the "Doolittle Raid" against targets in Japan. Over the target, this B-25 dropped three demolition bombs and one incendiary bomb on an industrial section of Tokyo. After the raid, this bomber ditched in the China Sea west of Shangchow in China. Three crew were badly injured, injured, one slightly injured and delployed their life raft. Thatcher was only slightly injured and swam back to the wreck to get the medical kit from inside. Fates of the Crew Chinese fishermen were persuaded by Thatcher to carry his injured crew mates to temporary safety. Then for three days Chinese fishermen were forced or persuaded by him to carry the injured crew members over difficult mountainous terrain for medical treatment. All the crew were rescued as a result of Thatcher's leadership. Memorials Lawson died January 19, 1992 at age 74. He is buried at Chico Cemetery in Chico, CA at Outside Mausoleum, Building 1, Niche E-7. Davenport died February 14, 2000 at age 81. He is buried at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL. McClure died January 1, 1999 at age 82 in Tucson, AZ. He was cremated and his ashes scattered. Clever earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. When he returned to the United States he was stationed at Baer Field, Fort Wayne. On November 20, 1942 at age 28 died in a plane crash near Versailles, Ohio. He is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland, OR in Veterans Section 1, Row 2, Space 12. Thatcher died June 22, 2016 at age 94. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula, MT. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25B Mitchell 40-2261 "2261 (17th BG, 95th BS, "Ruptured Duck") was Doolittle raider. Was 7th aircraft launched from USS Hornet, bombed Tokyo, ran out of fuel and ditched on coast near Shangchow Apr 18, 1942." General Doolittle's Report on Japanese Raid April 18, 1942 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1943) by Ted W. Lawson FindAGrave - Maj Ted William Lawson (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Col Dean Davenport (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - CPT Charles Lee McClure (photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Robert Stevenson Clever (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - SSGT David Jonathan Thatcher (photo, grave photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 14, 2025
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