Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, the Doolittle Raid took place on April 18, 1942, wherein 16 B-25 bombers executed a daring assault on Japan. Communication and fuel shortages, among other challenges, led Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle and his fellow pilots to bail out or crash-land in China during their return journey, receiving selfless assistance from the people of Quzhou.

Since 2015, photographer Han Qiang has been tracking, capturing, and documenting the challenging journey of local enthusiasts as they search for remnants of the Doolittle Raid, bearing witness to a profoundly moving chapter in the history of the people of Quzhou.

Each photograph tells the story of an enduring cross-national friendship, carrying the genes and heritage of the Chinese and American peoples. The act of passing down and remembering is a mark of respect for history and culture.

Here are several highlights of the photographs.

In 2018, Mr. Fitzhugh visited the cave where his father had sought refuge after being rescued by the Chinese people following the Doolittle Raid. Upon seeing his father's name carved there, he couldn't help but shed tears of emotion. [Photo/app.qz123.com]

An air-raid shelter in Wangcun village, Kecheng district, Quzhou, where the Doolittle Raid pilots gathered and sought refuge in 1942. [Photo/app.qz123.com]

The portrait of a resident surnamed Qiu from Jiangshan, Quzhou, who participated in the rescue of the Doolittle Raid pilots. [Photo/app.qz123.com]

Zheng Weiyong, an employee of the Quzhou Branch of the Bank of China, has been searching for traces of the Doolittle Raid for more than a decade. In October 2020, he found this home where American pilots were sheltered and treated during their recovery. [Photo/app.qz123.com]

In April 2023, two pieces of wreckage from the Doolittle Raid's aircraft No 11 were detected on the mountainside of Qianqiu village in Anhui province. [Photo/app.qz123.com]