MAJOR GENERAL GORDON LEWIS DOOLITTLE Born on March 29, 1921, at Oregon City, Oregon, Gordon L. Doolittle became an aviation cadet in June 1942 and got his wings and commission in November 1943. He flew 70 combat missions in P-51s and P-38s for the Eighth Air Force’s 479th Fighter Group in England in World War II, shooting down three German aircraft and earning the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and six Air Medals. Doolittle left active duty in April 1946 as a captain and in August joined the Oregon Air National Guard. He was promoted to major in July 1947 as commanding officer of the 123d Fighter Squadron, which he headed during the Korean War on recall to active duty. Back in the Air National Guard he was promoted to colonel in October 1953 as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Oregon Air National Guard. In July 1958 Doolittle began a four-year tour as Air National Guard advisor to the Director of Plans at Headquarters U.S. Air Force after which he returned to State Guard duties as Chief of Staff (later, Commander) of the Oregon Air National Guard in the grade of brigadier general. He was promoted to major general in April 1973 and retired on June 30, 1977.On October 26, 2003, he became one of the first nine inductees into the Oregon Aviation Hall of Honor at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.Reference:Dupre, Flint O., Col. USAFR., USAF Biographical Dictionary (1965) – Doolittle, p. 57 (supplemented by period newspaper articles).