World War II Honoree

Thomas Carson Griffin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Alabama

Honored By

An Indebted American

TRAINED IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WITH DOOLITTLE'S RAIDERS. SERVED AS A B-25 BOMBER NAVIGATOR IN THE DOOLITTLE RAID ATTACK ON MAINLAND JAPAN ON APRIL 18, 1942. ATTACKED TOKYO WITH A RISKY LAUNCH OF 16 LAND-BASED BOMBERS AT SEA FROM AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER. THE PLANES LACKED FUEL TO REACH SAFE BASES AFTER DROPPING THEIR BOMBS. HE PARACHUTED OVER CHINA AFTER THE ATTACK, ELUDED JAPANESE CAPTURE, AND RETURNED TO ACTION. PERFORMED BOMBING RUNS FROM NORTH AFRICA, SHOT DOWN IN 1943, AND SPENT TWO YEARS IN A GERMAN PRISON CAMP. ATTAINED THE RANK OF MAJOR.