Greening, Charles Ross, Col

He was the pilot in crew #11 on the Doolittle Raid. It was necessary to both increase the range of the B-25's and not to risk the top-secret Norden bombsights.  As the unit armament officer, Capt. Greening was instrumental in reducing the aircraft's weight and adding extra fuel tanks. He also devised a 20-cent replacement bomb sight that actually worked better than the Norden at low altitudes. While serving again with the 17th Bomb group in North Africa, he was shot down over Italy and captured by the Germans. After 2 months, he escaped and was at liberty for 6 months but was then recaptured and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp.
After the war, he continued to serve in the USAAF and USAF in the US except for a brief period as Air Attaché to Australia and New Zealand.  

His DFC citation:

Awarded for actions during World War II

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 Captain (Air Corps) Charles Ross Greening (ASN: 0-22443), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Pilot 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. Captain Greening 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.

Action Date: April 18, 1942

Service: Army Air Forces

Rank: Captain

Company: 1st Special Aviation Project

Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force
Crew #11 (aircraft # 40-2249, "Hari Kari-er", target Yokohama), 34th Bomb Sq. (except 1)), L-R: Lt Frank A. Kappeler, navigator; Capt C. Ross Greening (89th Recon Sq), pilot; Sgt Melvin J. Gardner, flight engineer/gunner; Lt Kenneth E. Reddy, co-pilot; SSgt William L. Birch, bombardier. (USAF photo)

Sources:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1890
http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/greening.htm
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/crgreening.htm
http://www.fold3.com/page/461702164_col_charles_ross_ross_greening/
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41499308
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30181
http://bombgroup17.com/home