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Exhibition on Doolittle Raid underway in Quzhou

chinadaily.com.cn| Updated :2024-04-19

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B-25 bomber fuselage fragments and wreckage of a forward cockpit machine gun turret are on display at the Memorial Hall to the Doolittle Raid in Quzhou. [Photo/Tide News]

An exhibition showcasing invaluable historical materials and cultural relics related to the Doolittle Raid is now underway at the Memorial Hall to the Doolittle Raid in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.

The event, which began on April 18, commemorates the 82nd anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, a pivotal moment during World War II, when 16 B-25 bombers executed a daring assault on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The exhibition features a compelling array of narratives, photographs, and tangible artifacts, including fragments of aircraft fuselage, wreckage of the forward cockpit machine gun turret, and the standard collar insignia worn by airborne soldiers.

Additionally, a combat map covered in signatures and an emotionally charged letter are on display. Five exhibits made their debut, including Doolittle's letter to the descendants of the rescuers, highlighting the enduring gratitude of Doolittle and the other raiders towards the sacrifices made by the Chinese people.

During the exhibition, William Ross Conterberg, representative of the Doolittle Raiders' Children's Association, accompanied by his wife Tracy Diane Conterberg, took a poignant stroll through the displays, pausing intermittently to capture moments with their phones.

William's grandfather, Lieutenant Rodney R. Wilder, served as the co-pilot of the No 5 plane during the raid and was rescued following an emergency parachute landing near Fangyuan village in Jiangshan.

Tracy was particularly affected upon seeing the yellowed papers in the display case, each filled with accounts written in blue ink detailing the atrocities committed by the enemy against the residents of the area where the US plane had landed in Jiangshan, as well as the resulting property losses.

"I am a history teacher, but I only knew about the Doolittle Raid before. I had no idea about the immense sacrifices made by the Chinese people. This has deeply moved me," Tracy expressed. "This history can bridge time and serve as a testament to the friendship between our two nations."