In tribute to the United States’ 250th anniversary, we are shining a light on Freemasons who served our country throughout its history. Our fraternity’s legacy is woven into the American story—not just at its founding, but in every era where courage and leadership were required. Join us as we profile ‘Brother Patriots’ from across the decades who proved that a commitment to the Craft and a commitment to Country go hand-in-hand.
For centuries, Freemasonry has encouraged men to live with integrity, to pursue truth, and to serve others. Few men embodied these values as fully as Illustrious Brother James Harold “Jimmy” Doolittle. A Medal of Honor recipient, aviation pioneer, and devoted Freemason, Doolittle’s life was a testament to patriotism, courage, innovation, and the brotherhood of mankind.
Born to Fly
Jimmy Doolittle was born in Alameda, California, on December 14, 1896, and spent much of his childhood in Nome, Alaska. By the time the United States entered World War I in 1917, he was studying at the University of California, Berkeley. He left his studies to enlist as a flying cadet in the Signal Corps Reserve, beginning a lifelong career in service to his country.
That same year, he sought to join the world’s oldest fraternity. While stationed in Louisiana, Doolittle received special dispensations from both the Grand Lodge of California and the Grand Lodge of Louisiana so that his military duties would not prevent him from receiving his degrees. On August 16, 1918, he was raised a Master Mason in Lake Charles Lodge No. 16, Louisiana. Later, he affiliated with Hollenbeck Lodge No. 319 in Los Angeles.
Doolittle’s Masonic journey did not end in the Blue Lodge. He went on to become a Shriner and to receive the 33° in the Scottish Rite as a reflection of how the virtues of our craft guided him throughout his life of remarkable service.
Breaking Barriers in the Air
Following World War I, Doolittle continued to fly for the Army and to study aeronautical engineering. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in 1922 and went on to complete both a master’s and a doctorate at MIT – the very first doctorate in aeronautical engineering ever awarded in the United States.
Over the next two decades, he pushed aviation forward in ways that changed both military and civilian flying forever. He completed the first coast-to-coast flight with a single refueling stop. He performed aerobatic stunts once thought impossible, including the first outside loop. Most importantly, in 1929 he became the first pilot to take off, fly, and land using only instruments, paving the way for modern airline travel.
He also thrilled the public as an air racer, winning the Bendix, Thompson, and Schneider trophies, and setting world speed records. After his final victory in 1932, he retired from racing, saying with his trademark wit: “I have yet to hear anyone engaged in this work dying of old age.”
The Doolittle Raid
When the United States entered World War II, Doolittle was recalled to active duty. In early 1942, he was asked to plan and lead a daring mission to strike the Japanese mainland. On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 bombers launched from the deck of the USS Hornet, the first time such an attempt had ever been made. Their targets included Tokyo and other major cities.
The raid caused only minor physical damage, but its impact was immense. It lifted American morale after the shock of Pearl Harbor and forced Japan to redeploy forces to protect its cities, setting the stage for the decisive Allied victory at Midway two months later.
Though all sixteen aircraft were lost and several crewmen were killed or captured, the raid was hailed as a triumph of American resolve. Fellow Freemason President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented Doolittle with the Medal of Honor, commending his “leadership above and beyond the call of duty.” For his courageous actions, he was promoted two ranks to brigadier general.
Leadership in War
Doolittle’s service did not end with the raid that bears his name. Over the course of the war, he commanded the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa, the Fifteenth Air Force in the Mediterranean, and ultimately the Eighth Air Force in Europe. Under his leadership, the Eighth Air Force became the largest and most powerful air fleet of the war, and was instrumental in helping secure Allied victory.
After the war, Doolittle remained active in military and civilian aviation, serving as an advisor on ballistic missiles and space technology, chairing the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and working in leadership roles in the aerospace industry. In 1985, Congress advanced him to the rank of full four-star general, the first Air Force reservist to receive that honor.
An Enduring Inspiration
For all his accomplishments in uniform, what distinguished Jimmy Doolittle was the consistency of his character. The values he pledged to uphold as a Mason were the same values that shaped his public life. Through the care he showed for the men under his command, leading from the front and sharing in their hardships, he embodied the tenet of Brotherly Love. And, in typical Masonic fashion, he sought Truth and knowledge tirelessly, combining scientific rigor with personal courage to expand what humanity thought possible.
Illustrious Brother Jimmy Doolittle passed to the Celestial Lodge above on September 27, 1993, at the age of 96. He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery beside his beloved wife Josephine. A lone B-25 bomber flew overhead at his funeral, a final salute to the man who had once led sixteen of them into history.
Freemasonry builds good character which often finds its expression in service to others. Brother Doolittle’s life was an extraordinary example of this principle. He built a legacy of service to his country and his fraternity, and in so doing, he inspired generations.
For the many Freemasons across Ohio, and for the millions of Brothers around the world, General Jimmy Doolittle’s is a powerful reminder of what it means to live our Masonic principles. His courage in the air, his patriotism, and his lifelong brotherhood with fellow Masons call us to higher service. As Masons, we know our work is never finished. Brother Doolittle’s life encourages us to build with courage, with humility, and with love for our families, our communities, and our country.
Looking for more history? Ohio has been home to many Patriotic Brothers, including President William McKinley, a member of Hiram Lodge No. 21.