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Horace Ellis Crouch

May 08, 2024

Lieutenant Colonel Horace Ellis Crouch (October 29, 1918 – December 21, 2005) was an American military aviator whose career included service with the United States Army Air Corps and United States Air Force, he was a combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War who served as one of the crewmembers on the Doolittle Raid.[1]

Horace Ellis Crouch
Nickname(s)Sally
Born(1918-10-29)October 29, 1918
Columbia, South Carolina
DiedDecember 21, 2005(2005-12-21) (aged 87)
Columbia, South Carolina
Buried
Greenlawn Memorial Park
Columbia, South Carolina
Allegiance United States
Service/branchArmy National Guard
United States Army Air Corps
United States Air Force
Years of service1937–1962
RankLieutenant colonel
Battles/warsWorld War II Korean War
AwardsSilver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Congressional Gold Medal
Order of the Palmetto

Early life edit

Crouch was a native of Columbia, South Carolina, he attended Columbia High School and earned a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from The Citadel graduating in 1940; while a cadet he also served as a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard.[2] Commissioned into the Army Air Corps, he became triple qualified as a Navigator, Bombardier and Radar Operator then was assigned to the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron of the 17th Bombardment Group based at Pendleton Airport, Oregon which flew the new North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber.[3]

On December 5, 1941, he married Mary Epting (1919–2001), a childhood friend and high school classmate, while on their honeymoon they learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that lead to the United States entry into World War II.[4]

World War II and later military service edit

 
One of the Doolittle Raiders aircraft takes off from the U.S.S Hornet on April 18, 1942

In early 1942, Crouch was one of 80 volunteers (from an original pool of 120) chosen for a secret mission to be led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, a surprise raid on Japan conducted by 16 B-25s flown off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8).[5][6][7] The "Doolittle Raiders" trained at Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina and Eglin Field in Florida before sailing from Naval Air Station Alameda, California for Japan aboard the Hornet on April 2, 1942. Crouch served as the Bombardier, Navigator and Nose Gunner of Crew #10 flying on aircraft serial number 40-2250 which included Pilot Lt. Richard Joyce, Co-Pilot Lt. Royden Stork, Engineer/Turret Gunner Sgt. George Larkin and Gunner SSgt. Edward Horton.[8]

 
Crouch(left) with fellow crewmembers Richard Joyce and Royden Stork having dinner in San Francisco the night before departing for the Doolittle Raid

After launching off the Hornet on April 18 their aircraft struck targets in Tokyo and was credited with shooting down 2 Japanese fighters, the only enemy aircraft destroyed on the mission.[2] After dropping their bombs, they flew on to China where the crew bailed out and were escorted to safety by local Chinese guerillas. Crouch remained in the China Burma India Theater until June 1943, serving with the 11th Bomb Squadron of the 341st Bombardment Group initially at bases in India and later at Kunming, China.[9] After serving briefly in Japan after wars end Crouch left active duty in 1947 and joined the newly organized Air Force Reserve, he was recalled to active duty in 1948 with the newly independent United States Air Force and was assigned as Deputy State Director of the Selective Service System in Columbia, South Carolina. He returned to flying duty as a Navigator on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress flying combat missions during the Korean War while assigned to the 307th Bomb Wing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. After subsequent service with the 301st Bomb Wing and 4th Air Division at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, he was Chief of Intelligence for the 68th Bomb Wing at Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana then became qualified as an Aircraft Observer on the Boeing B-47 Stratojet.[3] He resigned his commission in 1957 but returned to active duty as an enlisted Photo Interpretation Specialist and Intelligence Analyst serving in Germany and Shaw AFB, South Carolina, he retired in 1962 but reverted to his highest grade of lieutenant colonel.

 
Horace Crouch (center) while serving with the 341st Bomb Group in China, 1943

Later life edit

Crouch was a high school math and drafting teacher at Columbia High school for another 20 years after his military service and earned a master's degree from Clemson University.[2] He was a member of the Doolittle Raiders Association and American Legion, his military awards included the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Republic of China Armed Forces Medal Class A 1st Grade. In 1998, he was inducted into the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame.[10] He was also recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest award given by the State of South Carolina.[11] In 2014, the Doolittle Raiders were awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.[12]

Awards and decorations edit

References edit

  1. ^ Services, Times Wire (December 27, 2005). "Lt. Col. Horace Crouch, 87; Flier in Doolittle's 1942 Raid on Japan" – via LA Times.
  2. ^ a b c "Crouch". www.doolittleraider.com.
  3. ^ a b "Veteran Tributes". www.veterantributes.org.
  4. ^ "Lt. Col. Horace E. Crouch served his nation and our community – www.thecolumbiastar.com – Columbia Star". www.thecolumbiastar.com.
  5. ^ "Doolittle Raid – World War II". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  6. ^ . National Geographic News. April 15, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017.
  7. ^ Gerrard, Clayton K.S. Chun ; illustrated by Howard (2006). The Doolittle raid 1942 : America's first strike back at Japan (1. publ. ed.). Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 9781846031311
  8. ^ "Crew #10". Children of the Doolittle Raiders.
  9. ^ "Front Page". usaaf-in-cbi.com.
  10. ^ "Horace Ellis "Sally" Crouch".
  11. ^ "The Citadel Alumni Association". secure.citadelalumni.org.
  12. ^ "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal". National Museum of the US Air Force™.

External links edit

Further reading edit

  • Lawson, Ted W. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Dulles, Virginia: Brassey's Inc., 2003 (60th anniversary reprinted edition). ISBN 1-57488-508-1.
  • James H. Doolittle; Carroll V. Glines. I Could Never Be So Lucky Again. ISBN 0-88740-737-4. OCLC 33957079

May 08, 2024
horace, ellis, crouch, lieutenant, colonel, october, 1918, december, 2005, american, military, aviator, whose, career, included, service, with, united, states, army, corps, united, states, force, combat, veteran, world, korean, served, crewmembers, doolittle, . Lieutenant Colonel Horace Ellis Crouch October 29 1918 December 21 2005 was an American military aviator whose career included service with the United States Army Air Corps and United States Air Force he was a combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War who served as one of the crewmembers on the Doolittle Raid 1 Horace Ellis CrouchNickname s SallyBorn 1918 10 29 October 29 1918Columbia South CarolinaDiedDecember 21 2005 2005 12 21 aged 87 Columbia South CarolinaBuriedGreenlawn Memorial ParkColumbia South CarolinaAllegiance United StatesService wbr branchArmy National GuardUnited States Army Air CorpsUnited States Air ForceYears of service1937 1962RankLieutenant colonelBattles warsWorld War II Doolittle Raid China Burma India Theater Korean WarAwardsSilver StarDistinguished Flying CrossAir MedalCongressional Gold MedalOrder of the Palmetto Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II and later military service 3 Later life 4 Awards and decorations 5 References 6 External links 7 Further readingEarly life editCrouch was a native of Columbia South Carolina he attended Columbia High School and earned a bachelor s degree in Civil Engineering from The Citadel graduating in 1940 while a cadet he also served as a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard 2 Commissioned into the Army Air Corps he became triple qualified as a Navigator Bombardier and Radar Operator then was assigned to the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron of the 17th Bombardment Group based at Pendleton Airport Oregon which flew the new North American B 25 Mitchell medium bomber 3 On December 5 1941 he married Mary Epting 1919 2001 a childhood friend and high school classmate while on their honeymoon they learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that lead to the United States entry into World War II 4 World War II and later military service edit nbsp One of the Doolittle Raiders aircraft takes off from the U S S Hornet on April 18 1942In early 1942 Crouch was one of 80 volunteers from an original pool of 120 chosen for a secret mission to be led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle a surprise raid on Japan conducted by 16 B 25s flown off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet CV 8 5 6 7 The Doolittle Raiders trained at Columbia Army Air Base in South Carolina and Eglin Field in Florida before sailing from Naval Air Station Alameda California for Japan aboard the Hornet on April 2 1942 Crouch served as the Bombardier Navigator and Nose Gunner of Crew 10 flying on aircraft serial number 40 2250 which included Pilot Lt Richard Joyce Co Pilot Lt Royden Stork Engineer Turret Gunner Sgt George Larkin and Gunner SSgt Edward Horton 8 nbsp Crouch left with fellow crewmembers Richard Joyce and Royden Stork having dinner in San Francisco the night before departing for the Doolittle RaidAfter launching off the Hornet on April 18 their aircraft struck targets in Tokyo and was credited with shooting down 2 Japanese fighters the only enemy aircraft destroyed on the mission 2 After dropping their bombs they flew on to China where the crew bailed out and were escorted to safety by local Chinese guerillas Crouch remained in the China Burma India Theater until June 1943 serving with the 11th Bomb Squadron of the 341st Bombardment Group initially at bases in India and later at Kunming China 9 After serving briefly in Japan after wars end Crouch left active duty in 1947 and joined the newly organized Air Force Reserve he was recalled to active duty in 1948 with the newly independent United States Air Force and was assigned as Deputy State Director of the Selective Service System in Columbia South Carolina He returned to flying duty as a Navigator on the Boeing B 29 Superfortress flying combat missions during the Korean War while assigned to the 307th Bomb Wing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa After subsequent service with the 301st Bomb Wing and 4th Air Division at Barksdale AFB Louisiana he was Chief of Intelligence for the 68th Bomb Wing at Lake Charles AFB Louisiana then became qualified as an Aircraft Observer on the Boeing B 47 Stratojet 3 He resigned his commission in 1957 but returned to active duty as an enlisted Photo Interpretation Specialist and Intelligence Analyst serving in Germany and Shaw AFB South Carolina he retired in 1962 but reverted to his highest grade of lieutenant colonel nbsp Horace Crouch center while serving with the 341st Bomb Group in China 1943Later life editCrouch was a high school math and drafting teacher at Columbia High school for another 20 years after his military service and earned a master s degree from Clemson University 2 He was a member of the Doolittle Raiders Association and American Legion his military awards included the Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Republic of China Armed Forces Medal Class A 1st Grade In 1998 he was inducted into the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame 10 He was also recipient of the Order of the Palmetto the highest award given by the State of South Carolina 11 In 2014 the Doolittle Raiders were awarded a Congressional Gold Medal 12 Awards and decorations edit nbsp Bombardier Badge Army Air Corps nbsp U S Air Force Senior Navigator Observer Badge nbsp Silver Star nbsp Distinguished Flying Cross nbsp nbsp Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster nbsp Army Good Conduct Medal nbsp American Defense Service Medal nbsp nbsp American Campaign Medal nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal nbsp World War II Victory Medal nbsp Army of Occupation Medal nbsp National Defense Service Medal nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Korean Service Medal nbsp Armed Forces Reserve Medal nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters nbsp Medal of the Armed Forces A 1 Republic of China nbsp Presidential Unit Citation Korea nbsp United Nations Service MedalReferences edit Services Times Wire December 27 2005 Lt Col Horace Crouch 87 Flier in Doolittle s 1942 Raid on Japan via LA Times a b c Crouch www doolittleraider com a b Veteran Tributes www veterantributes org Lt Col Horace E Crouch served his nation and our community www thecolumbiastar com Columbia Star www thecolumbiastar com Doolittle Raid World War II Encyclopedia Britannica Trained in Secret These Fearless Pilots Retaliated for Pearl Harbor National Geographic News April 15 2017 Archived from the original on April 18 2017 Gerrard Clayton K S Chun illustrated by Howard 2006 The Doolittle raid 1942 America s first strike back at Japan 1 publ ed Oxford Osprey ISBN 9781846031311 Crew 10 Children of the Doolittle Raiders Front Page usaaf in cbi com Horace Ellis Sally Crouch The Citadel Alumni Association secure citadelalumni org Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal National Museum of the US Air Force External links edithttps www thestate com news special reports state 125 article55503365 html http www baltimoresun com news bs xpm 2001 09 16 0109160012 story html http www wistv com story 747710 doolittle raiders 60th anniversary reunion in columbia https www postandcourier com patriots point to mark doolittle raid anniversary friday article a9e79bde 23a6 11e7 94ca a78027d42a86 html https airforce togetherweserved com usaf servlet tws webapp WebApp cmd ShadowBoxProfile amp type Person amp ID 173302Further reading editLawson Ted W Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Dulles Virginia Brassey s Inc 2003 60th anniversary reprinted edition ISBN 1 57488 508 1 James H Doolittle Carroll V Glines I Could Never Be So Lucky Again ISBN 0 88740 737 4 OCLC 33957079 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horace Ellis Crouch amp oldid 1194408887, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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