History Presentation Davey “Tokyo” Jones—The Doolittle Raid and the “Great Escape” Prison Camp
February 22
History Presentation
Davey “Tokyo” Jones—The Doolittle Raid and the “Great Escape” Prison Camp
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Doors Open at 9:00am Presentation Starts at 10:00am
In response to the Japanese December 7, 1941, attack on Hawaii and the Philippines, President Franklin Roosevelt directed that a strike on the Japanese homeland be launched as soon as possible. On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers carrying 80 airmen were launched from an aircraft carrier in a surprise attack against Japan. One of the sixteen lead pilots, Second Lieutenant David M. Jones distinguished himself in the planning and execution of the assault on Japan. Jones survived the mission and returned to the U.S.
Lt. Jones was subsequently assigned to the 319th Bomb Group in North Africa. On December 4, 1942, he was shot down and spent two and a half years as a prisoner of war (POW) in Stalag Luft III at Sagan in what was then part of Germany. Partly due to his constant agitation and harassment of the German guards, he was selected for the camp’s “escape committee”. Jones led one of the digging teams on the tunnel used in what was later termed “The Great Escape”. These events were portrayed in the 1963 film “The Great Escape” starring Steve McQueen.
After WWII Major General Davey Jones was to leave a lasting impact on the future of the U.S. Air Force as a bomb wing commander, test pilot of a new supersonic bomber, and a leader of the U.S. space program.
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM, World War II POW Historian Val Burgess will tell the story of Davey “Tokyo” Jones at the National Museum of World War II Aviation. This presentation will be open to all museum guests at no additional charge. Doors to the museum open at 9:00am. The presentation begins at 10:00am.
Image:2nd Lieutenant David M. “Davey” Jones is shown 2nd from the left in this photo of Doolittle Raiders Crew 5.