Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

Ted W. Lawson was the pilot. Lawson was born 7 March 1917 in Fresno, California and attended Los Angeles City College. He joined the Army Air Corps in March 1940.After the Doolittle Raid, he authored Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, an account of his participation in the Doolittle Raid. The book was subsequently adapted into a film of the same name. Later in the war, he served as Liaison Officer, U.S. Air Mission, Santiago, Chile from May 1943 until April 1944. He was retired for physical disability on 2 February 1945. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. Lawson owned and operated a machine shop in Southern California, as well as working for Reynolds Metals as liaison between the company and the military. He died in his home in Chico, California on 19 January 1992.
He was portrayed in the movie "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" by Van Johnson.
Lt. Dean Davenport
Dean Davenport was Lawson's co-pilot. He was born on 29 June 1918 in Spokane. He graduated from Portland High School in Portland, Oregon, in 1937. He studied law at Albany and Northwestern colleges in Portland until he enlisted as a Flying Cadet in the USAAF on 7 February 1941. He graduated from Advanced Flying School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 27 September 1941. Davenport was injured during the crash-landing in China after the raid. He managed to evade capture with the help of friendly Chinese. After successful escape and recuperation, he returned from India in October, 1942. He was later technical advisor for the film Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Davenport served in Alaska, flying P-40 Warhawk, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang aircraft from 1944 until 1947. He had been commanding officer of several fighter units and also commanded an Air Defense Command unit in the 1960s flying F-106 Delta Dart jet interceptors. He also served in Korea and flew 86 combat missions and rose to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. Colonel Davenport died on 14 February 2000 in Panama City, Florida, aged 81.
Actor Tim Murdock played his part in "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo."
Lt. Charles McClure
Charles L. McClure, (4 October 1916 – 19 January 1999) was Lawson's navigator. He graduated University City High School, University City, Missouri and attended the University of Missouri. He enlisted as a Flying Cadet on 12 October 1940 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and graduated from navigator training and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on 5 December 1941. McClure dislocated both of his shoulders in the crash after the raid and was hospitalized until June 1943. He was assigned duties as a navigator instructor and again hospitalized from February 1945 until June 1945. He was retired for physical disability on June 1945 with the rank of captain. His decorations include Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.
In "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," his part was played by Don DeFore.
Lt. Robert Clever
Robert Stevenson Clever (22 May 1914 – 20 November 1942) was Lawson's bombardier. Clever enlisted as Aviation Cadet at Vancouver Barracks, Washington on 15 March 1941 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant with the rating of bombardier on 16 December 1941 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. He was injured during the crash-landing in China. After returning to the United States, he was stationed at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana when he was killed in an aircraft crash near Versailles, Ohio on 20 November 1942.Clever had risen to the rank of first lieutenant prior to his death. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.
He was portrayed in the movie "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" by actor Herbert Gunn.
Sgt. David Thatcher
David J. Thatcher (born 31 July 1921), was the only enlisted crew member and served as the flight engineer/gunner. Thatcher was born in Bridger, Montana. Upon his high school graduation, he enlisted on 3 December 1940 and completed the Airplane and Engine Mechanic Course in Lincoln, Nebraska in December 1941.Thatcher was the only crew member to avoid serious injury when "The Ruptured Duck" crash-landed just off the China coast, enabling him to help the rest of the crew evade capture. Upon returning to the United States, Thatcher later served in England and Africa until January 1944. He was discharged from active duty in July 1945 after stateside assignments in California. Thatcher reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. His decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. Thatcher is the last survivor of the crew. As of January 2011, only 5 out of the original 80 raiders are still alive.
He was portrayed in the 1944 film, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" by actor Robert Walker.