Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
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Year of Birth 1917 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Lawson, Ted William, Maj.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town Fresno, California |
Last Address Chico, California
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Date of Passing Jan 19, 1992 |
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Location of Interment Chico Cemetery and Mausoleum - Chico, California |
Wall/Plot Coordinates Not Specified |
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Last Known Activity He was the pilot in crew #7 on the Doolittle Raid. He was badly injured on crash landing in China and had to have his leg amputated. He served in non-combat assignments until he was medically retired Feb 2, 1945. He wrote the book "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" about his experiences. In 1944 it was made into a movie with actor Van Johnson playing his part.
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 First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Ted W. Lawson (ASN: 0-399540), 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. Lieutenant Lawson 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: First Lieutenant
Company: 1st Special Aviation Project
Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force
Crew No. 7 (Plane #40-2261, "The Ruptured Duck", target Tokyo) 95th Bomb Sq. L-R: Lt. Charles L. McClure, navigator; Lt. Ted W. Lawson, pilot; Lt. Robert S. Clever, bombardier; Lt. Dean Davenport, copilot; Sgt. David J. Thatcher, flight engineer/gunner. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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Other Comments: Sources:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1885
http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/lawson.htm
http://www.cieldegloire.com/batailles_tokyo_e07.php#1
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17824560
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30258
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-25/40-2261.html
https://www.ancestry.com/search/
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FromYear 1935 | ToYear 1939 |
College Los Angeles City College |
Major unknown |
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Contact Phone Number
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Contact Email
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Year Established
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Address
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Last Updated:May 23, 2018 |
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