319thBG, C.O. Gen.David Jones (Doolittle Crew 5) /USAF Photo (CLICK on Photo, This is an ALBUM)

May '09 Barbara, Here is positive confirmation on Major General David M. Jones, Commander of the 319th Bomb Group taken from official Air Force records. (By John Tokay)
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Capt Jones was the Pilot on the third B-25 to take off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942, and after bombing Tokyo the crew bailed out over China when their aircraft ran out of fuel.He was assigned as Commander of the 319th Bomb Group in North Africa in September 1942 and was shot down and taken as a Prisoner of War of Germany on December 4, 1942.Jones was released in April 1945 and served as an air inspector at Headquarters Air Training Command before attending the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946.He then served as Director of War Plans at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Director of Combat Operations at 9th Air Force, and Commander of the 47th Bomb Group.Jones was Commander of the 47th Bomb Wing at Langley AFB, Virginia, from February to June 1952, and then at RAF Sculthorpe, England, from June 1952 to June 1955.He then served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the Air Proving Ground Command at Eglin AFB, Florida, until April 1958, when he became Commander of the 6592nd Test Squadron, where he was director of the B-58 Hustler Test Force, at Carswell AFB, Texas.Jones served in this position until August 1960, when he became Vice Commander of the Wright Air Development Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.In August 1964 he was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Systems with Headquarters Air Force Systems Command at Andrew AFB, Maryland, where he served until December 1964.


He next served as a pilot with the 17th Attack Group and then the 95th Bombardment Squadron. In early 1942 he volunteered for the Doolittle Project. During the training phase of this project, he flew the initial evaluation flights on the B-25 aircraft which were specially equipped for the mission. After the Doolittle raid on Tokyo, he bailed out over China. The Chinese people assisted him in returning to the United States. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation as a flight commander in the planning, training and completion of the mission.

In September 1942 General Jones was assigned as commander of the 319th Bombardment Group in North Africa. His belief in low-level bombing and his experience with the Doolittle Project resulted in an assignment to develop low-level bombing tactics and techniques. On Dec. 4, 1942, he was shot down over Bizerte, North Africa, and spent two and a half years as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III. As a result of his constant agitation and harassment of the enemy he was selected for the "escape committee" by fellow prisoners. The committee reviewed escape plans and directed escapes. After his liberation in April 1945, General Jones was commended for leadership among his fellow prisoners.
ISeptember 1942 General Jones was assigned as commander of the 319th Bombardment Group in North Africa.
(Info from John Tokay)