Doolittle Raid Legacy: Families Reunite in China to Honor WWII Rescues

The enduring legacy of World War II aviation cooperation between the United States and China was highlighted by a poignant reunion in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province. Susann Ozuk, daughter of Doolittle Raid airman Charles Ozuk, traveled to China to meet Liao Mingfa, the son of Liao Shiyuan, the local Chinese citizen who rescued her father decades ago. This meeting, captured in an image taken on April 17, 2024, underscores the immense personal sacrifice and risk taken by Chinese civilians who aided the American aviators following the daring 1942 bombing mission over Japan.

This specific event is part of a broader feature dedicated to preserving these critical WWII histories, driven by the efforts of a Chinese photographer. The Doolittle Raid, a pivotal moment in the Pacific theater, saw 16 U.S. Army Air Forces B-25B Mitchell bombers launch from the USS Hornet. After completing their mission, most crews were forced to bail out or crash-land across unoccupied China, where they were met with extraordinary aid from the local populace, often at great peril from Japanese forces. The reunion between the Ozuk and Liao families serves as a powerful reminder of this shared wartime history and the deep bonds forged through these acts of heroism and international cooperation.