Descendants of Doolittle Raid participants visit Shangrao, China's Jiangxi

A descendant of a rescued Doolittle Raid participant (R) hugs a descendant of a Chinese villager who took part in the rescue in Shangrao, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 10, 2026. The Doolittle Raid, planned and led by U.S. Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle on April 18, 1942, was an air raid on Japan as a retaliation for the attack on the U.S. Pearl Harbor.

After the raid, 15 planes heading for an airport in Quzhou ran out of fuel and crashed in various localities in east China.

Chinese villagers risked their lives to rescue the parachuting airmen and helped them evacuate to safety. Of the 75 airmen aboard the planes, 64 were rescued by the Chinese people. However, many locals were suspected of sheltering the Americans, and some were tortured or even killed by Japanese soldiers.

In China, the Doolittle story has long been regarded as a symbol of the friendship forged between the Chinese and American peoples during their joint fight against fascism.

On Oct. 10, 6 representatives of descendants of the Doolittle Raid participants visited Shangrao to view a historical exhibition, revisit rescue sites and pay tribute to the Chinese people who rescued American airmen 84 years ago. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

Descendants of the rescued Doolittle Raid participants view a historical exhibition in Shangrao, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

Descendants of the rescued Doolittle Raid participants view a historical exhibition in Shangrao, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

Descendants of the rescued Doolittle Raid participants plant a tree of friendship with local people in Shangrao, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)