European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 3, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes sunday september 3, 1978 Doolittle Baluci Guajardo staff writer shape Belgium is i be had a very interesting life the wiry Veteran observed. I be been extremely Lucky. When people say would you like to live your life Over i say no. I could never be that Lucky a second time " that was world War ii aviation hero it. Gen. James a. Doolittle born 81 years ago in Alameda calif., talking during a Stop  general now consultant to an inter National insurance company had been invited to Lucerne Switzerland by the Swiss museum of transportation to take part in dedication of a plane he had flown from 1932 to 1936. The Pilot s memory had t faded especially not when it came to recalling the event that put him in the history books his leading America s first world War ii air strike against Japan on april 18, 1942. He remembered that if he had been a Little slower on his feet 36 years ago he might have missed the strike that stands out in the minds of Many americans because it was one of their earliest pieces of Good news during the conflict. Fateful hot footing i was t told i would be in command of the Mission. I was Given the chore of selecting the aircraft the Crews and their training supervising the maintenance and changes in the aircraft he said. At that time i asked if i might com Mand the outfit having by then achieved what i thought was a better knowledge of the people equipment and Mission than at 81, world War ii hero s memory remains Sharp As his skill in leading epic first air strike on Japan anyone else. And that request was grudgingly granted by my Superior Gen. Henry h. Hap  a matter of fact i know he gave it grudgingly because immediately he said i could go if his chief of staff maj. Gen. Mil lard f. Miff Harmon approved. I rushed Down to Gen. Harmon s offices s photo by j i m Cole i. Gen. James Doolittle and asked if he had any objections and he said  i could leave the room i heard the Buzzer go and heard Miff say but Hap i just told him he could go what Doolittle had for Protection from enemy fighters was two Broomsticks stuck in the rear of the b25s to simulate machine  had to remove the gun turrets machine guns and the Norden bomb sights from the b25s to make room for the Long Range Gas tanks. We stuck the Broom Sticks in the rear to fool fighters that might take a run at our Tail he said. The Fleet of b25s, Broomsticks and All evaded japanese antiaircraft guns bombed military targets in Tokyo and bailed out Over China. Eleven of the 80 Crew members were killed or captured. The remainder of the Crews including Doolittle eventually made it to safety with the help of Friendly  raid had very Little damaging effect. Sixteen tons of bombs. A puny Effort Doolittle said. We paid a rather High Price but there is no doubt it was Worth the risk. It raised morale at Home when we had nothing but losses to Brood  strike led to immediate promotion. Doolittle was then a lieutenant colonel. Two years later at age 44, he was a lieu tenant general. He also received the medal of Honor for his actions that Gray Day. Doolittle is Best remembered for the Tokyo raid but he was also one of the Ace pilots in the Pioneer Days of aviation and captured just about every major aviation award in the . He holds Many air Speed records. In 1922, he was first to Fly across the . In less than 24 hours and in 1929 he was first to Fly a set course and land without being Able to see the ground. After the War Doolittle went on inactive duty and was named vice president of an Oil company. He retired from military service in 1959. From 1959 to 1962, he was chairman of aerospace technology laboratories. Doolittle thinks today s Volunteer Mili tary compares Well to the fighting Force of his  change that has come is in the in creased complexity More technological Cli Anges rather than changes in people he said. In peacetime i think that a draft is not required. In time of War i think it is necessary to build up As rapidly As Possi ble and a draft might be  like Many aviators Doolittle was disappointed about cancellation of the by be cause i feel a Long Range penetrating bomber is a very important part of our strategic posture. I feel that we need to use a larger percentage of the Gross National product in building up our military forces so that they remain at least equal to those of our enemy. At the present time our ene Mies Are rapidly overtaking us he said. I think that anything that we can work out with the russians that is to our Mutual advantage should be worked out. But i think that we should be Ever Alert to the fact that when it is no longer to their advantage they will no longer abide by their  tokens chewing gum substitutes Italy still Short of change despite All efforts by Bob Hoyer staff writer Naples Italy is you Are not supposed to laugh when the news Vendor hands you a Telephone Token or a pack of chewing gum As change. In change Short Italy these everyday commodities Are cherished Money Susti  the grumbling of shoppers the Gettone 50-lire Token and the common stick of gum make thousands of Small Busi Ness transactions possible. To Date All efforts to Correct Italy s perennial shortage of coins in particular the Scarcity of the popular 50-lire and 100-lire pieces have fallen on fallow ground. The government s introduction late last year of a new 200-lire Coin was proclaimed a sure cure. But the first Batch of Bright yellow coins issued in december vanished overnight As hoarders and collectors Squirrel led them away. Since january millions of these freshly minted 200-lire coins have been pumped into the system. But both visitors and Resi dents say that they get their hands on these coins Only infrequently. At Newsstands Gas stations shops bars and supermarkets customers continue to accept get tones chewing gum Candy and sometimes even matches or buttons in place of coins. Paper notes most of them in 100-lire de nominations Are sometimes foisted off on unsuspecting customers. But tourists in particular should be warned that these notes issued by Banks to paper Over the Coin shortage Are no longer valid. As in the past Coin shortage seems to feed on shortage. Every place i go they ask me for the Correct change even though i suspect they have change they Are hoarding an Amer ican visitor  wide use of vending machines and Coin operated bus fares no doubt have contributed to the shortage. In the past Rumor had it that the Japa Nese were buying up the Silver coloured 50 lire and 100-lire pieces and melting the Down. But this is hardly the reason for the Scarcity of the new Gold coloured 200-lire coins. Newness and Appeal to collectors Are probably the principal reasons. Or. Ercole Malasomma manager of ban cad America Branch . Naval sup port activity Naples is convinced the new Coin eventually will solve the change Short age. It will take time but this Coin should eliminate the problem Malasomma said. He feels the 200-lire denomination is Cor rect because it compensates for the loss in value due to inflation of the 100-lire Coin. Worth 16 . Cents at the Post War Exchange rate the 100-lire Coin now is equal to 12 cents at the current 840-lire Exchange rate. Valued at 24 cents the 200-lire Coin will buy a newspaper a cup of Coffee a pack age of Gurri two rides on a bus. And is Ideal for tips. Freshly minted but Bard to find 200-lire coins at the Banca d America in Naples. Navy photo