Bill Bower Signed Index Card (PSA) WWII Doolittle Raiders Pilot Plane #12

"**Hand-Signed Index Card by WWII Doolittle Raider Bill Bower – Encapsulated by PSA/DNA Authentication Services**

Offered for auction is an exceptional **hand-signed index card by Colonel William “Bill” Bower**, a decorated United States Army Air Forces pilot and one of the famed **Doolittle Raiders** of World War II. This historic signature has been **encapsulated by PSA/DNA Authentication Services**, ensuring its authenticity and long-term preservation.

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### **About Colonel Bill Bower**

**Colonel William Marsh ""Bill"" Bower (1917–2011)** was the pilot of Plane #12 during the legendary **Doolittle Raid**—America’s first retaliatory air strike on the Japanese mainland during World War II. A native of Ravenna, Ohio, Bower graduated from Kent State University before enlisting in the Army Air Corps and earning his pilot wings in 1940.

In 1942, then-Lieutenant Bower was selected as one of 80 airmen to take part in a daring and unprecedented mission: launching B-25 Mitchell bombers from the deck of an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean to strike Tokyo and other key Japanese cities. On **April 18, 1942**, Bower and his crew successfully launched from the **USS Hornet** and bombed targets in Yokohama before crash-landing in China due to fuel shortages. He and his crew evaded capture with the help of Chinese allies.

Following the raid, Bower continued to serve with distinction, including combat tours in North Africa and the Mediterranean. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a full colonel in 1966. He was the **last surviving pilot** of the original 16 aircraft that flew in the Doolittle Raid and remained a revered figure in American military history until his passing in 2011.

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### **About the Doolittle Raid**

The **Doolittle Raid**, carried out on **April 18, 1942**, was a critical morale-boosting mission early in the war for the United States. Planned and led by Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, the mission involved launching 16 B-25 bombers from the deck of the USS *Hornet*—the first time medium bombers had ever taken off from an aircraft carrier.

The bold operation struck military and industrial targets in Tokyo, Yokohama, and other cities, catching Japan off guard and proving that the home islands were not invulnerable to American air power. Though militarily limited in damage, the raid had a profound psychological impact on both American and Japanese forces and set the stage for future Pacific campaigns.

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### **Item Details**

- **Signer**: Colonel William “Bill” Bower

- **Format**: Hand-signed index card

- **Authentication**: **Encapsulated by PSA/DNA Authentication Services**

- **Encapsulation**: Tamper-proof PSA/DNA holder for secure preservation

- **Condition**: Signature is crisp, bold, and cleanly presented

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This rare and historically significant signature is a cherished artifact from one of the most heroic chapters in U.S. military aviation history. It is an outstanding addition for collectors of **WWII memorabilia**, **aviation history**, or those honoring the legacy of the **Doolittle Raiders**."

A portion of the sale of this auction will be donated to the General James. H Doolittle Scholarship Fund. The General James H. Doolittle Scholarship Fund was founded to assist college students by awarding one scholarship annually in the maximum amount of $5,000 to a deserving student who is pursuing a baccalaureate or advanced degree in aeronautical engineering or an aerospace science. Students are selected based on their scholastic achievement, school and community participation, demonstrated leadership potential and financial need. More information can be found at the Doolittle Scholarship Funds’ website.

The autograph(s) has been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA for authenticity purposes.

Authentication: PSA Encapsulated

Due to the uniqueness of each item, please refer to the photos provided in this auction. We offer high resolution images of each item rather than a written description of condition.

This item is being shipped from the Pristine Auction warehouse.