FLOYD NOLTA & JIMMIE DOOLITTLE

 

Gen. Jimmie Doolittle was good friends with Floyd Nolta. I believe they metwhile learning to fly together during WWI. They were lifelong friends. After WWII, Doolittle came up to Willows many times to go hunting. Here's a picture from one of those trips. The only people I can identify are: Floyd Nolta - top row, 2nd from left. Doolittle - top row, 3rd from left, next to Floyd. Dale Nolta - bottom right.      When I was in grammar school, I remember being taken to Dale Nolta's house once to meet Gen. Doolittle. I had no idea at the time who he was, but I knew he was somebody important.      Floyd also flew in the movie "30 Seconds Over Tokyo". Floyd flew the plane that Jimmie Doolittle was supposed to be flying as he flew under the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo from collection of Floyd Nolta Caption courtesy of George Nolta

 

Here's a photo from one of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle's many hunting trips up to Willows with Floyd and Dale.      Left to right: Bill Downs (I believe a good friend of Doolittle, maybe his pilot.), Dale Nolta, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, and Hugh Logan.      Hugh Logan was a rancher in the foothills west of Willows, and a good friend of Dale and Floyd. We named our daughter Valerie after Hugh Logan's daughter Valerie. She was in my grammar school class in Willows around 1948, and I always associated the name with great beauty! (From Gregg's collection at Nolta's Airport.) Courtesy of George Nolta

 

Gen. Doolittle in Willows - 1945      Jimmie is on the far left. Second from left is Bill Downs - a friend of Jimmie. Fourth from left is Dale Nolta. The two children in front are Dale’s children - Edward and Joyce. The other adults are unidentified. (From Gregg's collection at Nolta's Airport.) Courtesy of George Nolta

 

Gen. Doolittle & Wives of Hosts - 1948      On one of Jimmie Doolittle’s trips to Willows, he posed with the wives of his hosts. Left to right: Gretchen Nolta, wife of Dale; Jessie Nolta, wife of Floyd; Gen. Doolittle; Unknown; Unknown. (From Gregg's collection at Nolta's Airport.) Courtesy of George Nolta

 

JIMMIE DOOLITTLE & SON Photo from collection of Floyd Nolta Caption courtesy of George Nolta

 

JIMMIE DOOLITTLE'S B-25 Photo from collection of Floyd Nolta Caption courtesy of George Nolta

 

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