European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 16, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 9 Doolittle s raiders marking big 50 by . Rigsby the associated press Columbia . A Doolittle a raiders the men who led the first air raid on Japan during world War ii Are gathering at the place where it All began to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the attack. Half of the 80 raiders Are still alive and 36 plan to attend the reunion which runs from thursday through saturday. As Young men they met at the Columbia army air base before going to Florida to train in Short takeoffs and landings. Missing from the reunion will be James h. Doolittle who As a lieutenant colonel led the daring team. Doolittle 95, lives in Carmel Calif. On april 18, 1942, 16 b-25 bombers took off from the aircraft Carrier Hornet the first fully loaded bombers Ever to take off from a Carrier. The raid was the United states answer to Japan a attack on Pearl Harbor four months earlier. Although the bombs Doolittle a raiders dropped inflicted no serious damage the Mission was a much needed boost to american morale. The Crews planned to unload their bombs Over Japan then land in chinese territory that was in Friendly hands. But Stormy weather made it impossible for them to reach Haven and most of the planes crash landed in China after running out of fuel some in japanese held areas. One ended up in the soviet Union and its Crew was held for a year before being released. Seven of the 80 airmen drowned or were killed when they parachuted. Eight were captured by the japanese of those three were executed one died in prison and four were released when the War ended. The three former pos still alive plan to attend the reunion. A i Harbor no ill feelings toward anyone a said Chase Nielsen 75, of Brigham City Utah who was a lieutenant and navigator when he was captured. He said he was tortured starved and suspended in Handcuffs so that his toes barely touched the floor. The japanese tight squeeze an old b-25 bomber named a  just manages to slip under a railway trestle in Colombia ., As it Heads for a resting place in the state museum. The world War ii plane crashed into Lake Greenwood near Columbia in 1945 and will be part of the 50th anniversary Celebration of Jimmy Doolittle a famous Mission against Japan. A were fighting the War the same As we were a he said. Jacob Deshazer a Corporal and Bombardier wrote poems on an imaginary blackboard and memorized Bible verses to pass the time he spent in prison Camp. After the War Deshazer now 79 and living in Salem ore., became a minister and spent 30 years As a missionary in Japan and China. A i just love the japanese a he said. Robert Hite 72, of Camden ark., saw his weight drop to 80 pounds during his stay in a japanese prison. He was bitten by bugs rats Ana lice suffered starvation and had water poured Down his nostrils. He said he hated the japanese for a Long time. But the former lieutenant and co Pilot acknowledged that his Crew had bombed japanese Oil tanks and an aircraft factory. A i guess maybe they had to forgive me too a he said. The menus exploits were recorded in the 1944 film thirty seconds Over Tokyo starring Spencer Tracy As Doolittle. The men have held annual reunions for , guns found in London London up a a police and officers from the anti terrorist Branch currently questioning a couple under the prevention of terrorism act made More arrests wednesday Scotland Yard said. A we can confirm there have been further arrests and that is All we can say a a police spokeswoman said. As part of the investigation police found a Cache of explosives and guns tuesday the spokeswoman said. The Cache which included 70 pounds of the plastic explosive semtex and a dozen guns was found in a rented garage several Miles from the House in Northwest London where the couple were arrested the British broadcasting corp. Reported. The discovery of arms was made after police searched the House. A part of our continuing operations has led to the recovery of arms and explosives a the spokeswoman said. Scotland Yard refused to comment on whether mondays arrests were made in connection with last weekends Irish Republican army bombing attacks in London that killed three people and wounded 91. The couple being questioned were arrested Early monday after lengthy surveillance and Are being held under the prevention of terrorism act. Under the act suspects can be held for 48 hours without being charged and for five More Days with the approval of the Home Secretary. Gis British spouses in . Liable for poll tax court rules London apr British spouses of . Service members stationed in Britain must pay a controversial local tax even if they Seldom use local services the court of Appeal ruled wednesday. Three judges ruled unanimously in a test Case affecting about 4,000 spouses and other family members that 13 wives of military personnel at the . Air Force base at Raf upper Heyword Are liable for the tax although they May Benefit Little if at All from Public services. Lord Justice Michael Mann said the British spouses unlike american family members did not fall within the term a exempt individuals under the legislation that set up the poll tax a per capita charge that helps pay for local services. A in practice their liabilities will be discharged by their husbands who May understandably regard payment As a penalty for marriage to a British citizen a Mann said. Among the plaintiffs was Stephanie vendrely the Brit ish wife of a . Military policeman who now must pay her outstanding Bill of 538 pounds $952 for two years of poll taxes. A i am disgusted because As the wives of . Servicemen we Are not eligible for any state benefits and we done to take advantage of the Public services. They done to give us anything but still expect us to pay the poll tax a vendrely said. Environment department spokesman David prior said the British spouses Are liable for the tax because they have retained their British citizenship. He also questioned the notion that the spouses did not Benefit from the services funded by the poll tax. A if they used the local Library if they drove Down streets lit by Street lamps if they walked rather than levitated Down the local Footpath it they wanted the streets swept the police to be on Call a then they took advantage of services provided by their local councils prior said. Bored russian spies fading from Europe Moscow apr Russia is recalling spies from Europe because they done to have enough work the itar Tass news Agency reported tuesday. A we have already begun reducing our intelligence network in Germany and other countries Quot the news Agency quoted russian foreign intelligence spokeswoman Tatyana Samolis As saying. A we Hope our colleagues from the German intelligence service will follow  itar Tass did not specify which other countries would see their russian spy Community Cut. Nor did it give any figures. It noted the move reflects reduced East West tension. The announcement follows saturdays expulsion from Belgium of four russian diplomats accused of spying. Belgian officials said they uncovered a spy ring set up by the Kab that continued to operate after the collapse of the soviet Union. Russian foreign ministry spokesman Sergei Yastro hem sky called the Kab actions a a repetition of the old times which Are becoming a thing of the  a we very much Hope that the incident will not damage bilateral relations Between Russia and Belgium a Yastro Dembsky told a news briefing