David M. Jones

David Mudgett Jones (December 18, 1913 – November 25, 2008) served with distinction as a pilot and general officer, first with the U.S. Army Air Corps (he entered pilot training in June 1937) and later with the United States Army Air Forces and, after September 18, 1947, the United States Air Force. His record during World War II includes being one of the Doolittle Raiders whose exploits in April 1942 were dramatized in the film Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. He then flew combat missions over North Africa, where he was shot down. He was a German prisoner of war for two and a half years, helping with the April 1944 mass escape at Stalag Luft III, During the training phase of this project, he acted as navigation and intelligence officer for the ad hoc squadron of B-25 bombers. On April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raid launched from the United States Navy's aircraft carrier , dropping their bombs on Tokyo and four other Japanese cities.

North Africa and Stalag Luft III

In September 1942, Jones was assigned to the new 319th Bombardment Group, preparing for combat in North Africa. He was assigned to develop low-level bombing tactics and techniques due to his experience with the Doolittle project and his belief in low-level bombing tactics. On December 4, 1942, he was shot down over Bizerte, North Africa, and spent two and a half years as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III. After his liberation in April 1945, Jones was commended for leadership among his fellow prisoners. Then, in May 1967, he assumed duties as commander of the Air Force Eastern Test Range, Patrick AFB and Cape Kennedy AFS, Florida.

Retirement and death

Jones retired at the rank of major general on May 31, 1973. He was one of five Doolittle Raiders who later became general officers; the others are James H. Doolittle, John A. Hilger, Everett W. Holstrom, and Richard A. Knobloch.

In 2002, Jones attended the 50th reunion of the 47th Bombardment Wing at RAF Sculthorpe.

He presented the RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre with a photo of a B-45.

Jones died on November 25, 2008, at age 94, at his home in Tucson, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his first wife Anita Maddox Jones, and survived by his wife Janna-Neen Johnson-Dingell-Cunningham-Jones, daughter (Jere Jones Yeager), two sons (David Jones and Jim Jones) and a stepdaughter (Ann-Eve Grace Dingell-Cunningham).

U.S. Air Force Command Pilot BadgeAir Force Distinguished Service MedalLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying Crosswith bronze oak leaf clusterPurple HeartAir MedalAir Force Commendation Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterNASA Distinguished Service MedalNASA Exceptional Service MedalPrisoner of War MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith two bronze campaign starsEuropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medalwith two bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medalwith bronze service starAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith one silver and three bronze oak leaf clustersRepublic of China Medal of the Armed ForcesRepublic of China War Memorial Medal