Ted W. Lawson
Encyclopedia
Major
Ted W. Lawson (March 7, 1917 – January 19, 1992) was an American officer in the United States Army Air Forces
, who is known as the author of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, a memoir of his participation in the Doolittle Raid
on Tokyo
in 1942. The book was subsequently adapted into a film
of the same name starring Spencer Tracy
, Van Johnson
and Robert Mitchum
.
, California
and attended Los Angeles
City College. He joined the Army Air Corps in March 1940 while employed by Douglas Aircraft Company
and received his pilot's wings and 2nd Lt. commission on 15 November 1940.
In early 1942, Lawson, already a veteran B-25
pilot, was accepted as a volunteer for the mission led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle
to bomb Tokyo
with 16 carrier-launched B-25 Mitchell bombers - the first air raid on mainland Japan during World War II following the Pearl Harbour attack. The aircraft that he flew on the raid was nicknamed "The Ruptured Duck
." After launching the mission 170 miles (275 km) further out than planned, all of the aircraft ran out of fuel short of their intended destination in non-Japanese occupied China. Lawson and his crew were forced to ditch "The Ruptured Duck" off the coast of the small island of Nantien. Lawson and his co-pilot were both thrown clear of the B-25, with Lawson suffering a lacerated left leg in the process. After he was transported throughout several provinces in China, Lawson's leg was surgically amputated. The nose-art of the crashed bomber, "The Ruptured Duck", was later salvaged by the Japanese and put on display in Tokyo
.
decided to write a book about the mission, entitled Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
. In four nights and two days in the Mayflower Hotel
in Washington, the entire story was worked out. Through friends in the Los Angeles area, Ted made contact with MGM producer Sam Zimbalist
, and the movie was launched in 1944. The film starred Van Johnson
as Lawson, alongside Spencer Tracy
and Robert Mitchum
. It won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.
, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.
Lawson owned and operated a machine shop in Southern California, as well as working for Reynolds Metals as a liaison between the company and the military. He died in his home in Chico, California
on January 19, 1992 and was interred at the Chico Cemetery Mausoleum.
at Fort Benning
, Georgia is partially named for Ted W. Lawson. It was originally named only for Walter R. Lawson (no relation to Ted), an Army Air Corps flyer who earned the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I. Several years later, after the Doolittle Raid in World War II, Ted W. Lawson's name was added to the memorial at the field.
In 2003, Brassey's reprinted Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo with more photos and an introduction from Lawson's widow, Ellen.
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
Ted W. Lawson (March 7, 1917 – January 19, 1992) was an American officer in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, who is known as the author of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, a memoir of his participation in the Doolittle Raid
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
on Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1942. The book was subsequently adapted into a film
Thirty Seconds over Tokyo
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is a 1944 MGM war film. It is based on the true story of America's first retaliatory air strike against Japan four months after the December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The movie was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Sam Zimbalist. The screenplay by...
of the same name starring Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
, Van Johnson
Van Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
and Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
.
Early life
Lawson was born in AlamedaAlameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and attended Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
City College. He joined the Army Air Corps in March 1940 while employed by Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
and received his pilot's wings and 2nd Lt. commission on 15 November 1940.
World War II
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
pilot, was accepted as a volunteer for the mission led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle
Jimmy Doolittle
General James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle, USAF was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War...
to bomb Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
with 16 carrier-launched B-25 Mitchell bombers - the first air raid on mainland Japan during World War II following the Pearl Harbour attack. The aircraft that he flew on the raid was nicknamed "The Ruptured Duck
The Ruptured Duck (B-25)
"The Ruptured Duck" was the nickname of a World War II North American Aviation B-25B Mitchell medium bomber piloted by Lt. Ted W. Lawson of the 95th Bombardment Squadron, USAAF. The aircraft was one of sixteen B-25B's which participated in the Doolittle Raid on Japan commanded by Lieutenant...
." After launching the mission 170 miles (275 km) further out than planned, all of the aircraft ran out of fuel short of their intended destination in non-Japanese occupied China. Lawson and his crew were forced to ditch "The Ruptured Duck" off the coast of the small island of Nantien. Lawson and his co-pilot were both thrown clear of the B-25, with Lawson suffering a lacerated left leg in the process. After he was transported throughout several provinces in China, Lawson's leg was surgically amputated. The nose-art of the crashed bomber, "The Ruptured Duck", was later salvaged by the Japanese and put on display in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Author
In January 1943, Lawson and well-known newspaper columnist Bob ConsidineBob Considine
Robert "Bob" Bernard Considine was an American writer and commentator. He is best-known for co-writing Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and The Babe Ruth Story.-Biography:...
decided to write a book about the mission, entitled Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Thirty Seconds over Tokyo
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is a 1944 MGM war film. It is based on the true story of America's first retaliatory air strike against Japan four months after the December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The movie was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Sam Zimbalist. The screenplay by...
. In four nights and two days in the Mayflower Hotel
Mayflower Hotel
The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, known locally as simply The Mayflower, is a historic hotel in downtown Washington, DC located on Connecticut Avenue NW, two blocks north of Farragut Square . It is the largest luxury hotel in the U.S. capital and the longest continuously operating hotel in the...
in Washington, the entire story was worked out. Through friends in the Los Angeles area, Ted made contact with MGM producer Sam Zimbalist
Sam Zimbalist
Sam Zimbalist was an American film producer.-Early life:He began his career at 16 as a film cutter at Metro Studios...
, and the movie was launched in 1944. The film starred Van Johnson
Van Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
as Lawson, alongside Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
and Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
. It won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.
Later life
After leaving the hospital, Lawson served as Liaison Officer, U.S. Air Mission, Santiago, Chile from May 1943 until April 1944. He was retired for physical disability on February 2, 1945. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple HeartPurple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.
Lawson owned and operated a machine shop in Southern California, as well as working for Reynolds Metals as a liaison between the company and the military. He died in his home in Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
on January 19, 1992 and was interred at the Chico Cemetery Mausoleum.
Honors and tributes
Lawson Army AirfieldLawson Army Airfield
Lawson Army Airfield is a military airport located at Fort Benning in Chattahoochee County, Georgia, south of the city of Columbus, Georgia. It is Fort Benning's primary Force Projection Platform.- Facilities :Lawson Army Airfield has one runway:...
at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia is partially named for Ted W. Lawson. It was originally named only for Walter R. Lawson (no relation to Ted), an Army Air Corps flyer who earned the Distinguished Service Cross in World War I. Several years later, after the Doolittle Raid in World War II, Ted W. Lawson's name was added to the memorial at the field.
In 2003, Brassey's reprinted Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo with more photos and an introduction from Lawson's widow, Ellen.