Dean Davenport

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Dean Davenport, 0-427310, Colonel, United States Air Force

Davenport was born on June 29, 1918 in Spokane in eastern Washington. He graduated from Portland High School in Portland, Oregon, in 1937. He studied law at Albany and Northwestern colleges in Portland until he enlisted as a Flying Cadet in the U.S.A.A.F. on February 7, 1941. He graduated from Advanced Flying School and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on September 27, 1941.

He served as First Lieutenant Ted W. Lawson's co-pilot on the B-25 Mitchell Bomber "Ruptured Duck" which was part of the famous Doolittle Raid on Tokyo (April 18, 1942). He was injured during the crash-landing in China after the raid. He managed to evade capture with the help of friendly Chinese. After successful escape and recuperation, he returned from India in October, 1942. He was later technical advisor for film "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" which was the story of the "Ruptured Duck's" crew, and the raid. Served in Alaska flying P-40, P-38 and P-51 aircraft from 1944 until 1947. He had been commanding officer of several fighter units and also commanded an Air Defense Command unit flying F-106 interceptors.

He also served in Korea and flew 86 combat missions. His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.

He died on February 14, 2000 in Panama City, Florida, aged 81.