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Limited-edition painting donated to Doolittle CAOC

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A limited edition painting capturing the courageous actions of the famed "Doolittle Raiders" during the 1942 raid on Japan was donated to the General James H. Doolittle Combined Air and Space Operations Center here Monday. 

The painting, created by world-renowned aviation artist Williams S. Phillips, titled West Bound: A Date with the General, is a visual history of the United States' response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941 in which 2,333 Americans were killed and 1,139 injured. 

Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, commander 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern, and Maj. Gen. (retired) David Jones, one of the original Doolittle Raiders, accepted the painting from Count Ferdinand von Galen, the chairman of the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, who donated the painting after a chance finding at a recent auction. 

"12th Air Force and ASOUTH greatly appreciate the contributions made by Count Ferdinand von Galen and the Pima Air and Space Museum honoring and recognizing the legacy of Generals Doolittle and Jones and the Doolittle Raiders," said General Seip. "This painting captures the spirit of the Raiders and helps to ensure future generations of CAOC "Raiders" remember and reflect upon the significant contributions of these heroic Airmen." 

The CAOC, which was officially dedicated and named in May 2006 after the first commander of the Doolittle Raiders, General James H. Doolittle, is the "nerve-center" for the Combined Forces Air Component Commander and serves as the hub for all air and space activities during combat and humanitarian operations.
Count Von Galen said, during a short speech, he was delighted to donate such a rare painting to an important organization like the Doolittle CAOC as the command continues to embody the character of the original Raiders in their work around the world.
The painting is currently on display in the Doolittle CAOC. 

Twelfth Air Force is responsible for seven active-duty wings and three direct reporting units comprising 33,000 active-duty military and 1,200 guard and reserve personnel in the western and Midwestern United States. AFSOUTH overseas Air Force assets, five forward operating locations and civil and military engagements in the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility. The command conducts many of its operations from the Doolittle CAOC here where operations planning, execution and assessment directed by the Combined Air Component Commander are conducted. AFSOUTH has forward operating locations in Apiay, Aruba, Curacao, Manta, Muñiz and Soto Cano.