History Channel profiles John Birch. (Insider Report).(Brief Article)

Television's History Channel regularly broadcasts a feature known as "This Week in History." During mid-April, the popular cable channel aired a 15-minute review of the famous April 18, 1942 raid over Tokyo led by then-Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle. But the program was much more about the man who rescued Doolittle and some of his companions after they ditched their planes in a part of China held by Japanese occupation forces. The amazing American who brought the courageous flyers back to friendly forces was John Birch.

Launched from a carrier in the Pacific, the 16 B-25s bombed Japan's mainland. Unable to return to any friendly airfield because of low fuel capacity, the planes headed for China where their crews bailed out. The program noted that some were captured, but Doolittle and his party were brought back to friendly forces by John Birch, a Christian missionary living amongst the Chinese for the previous year and a half.

After young Birch told Doolittle he wanted to help the American forces rid China of Japanese invaders, the rescued pilot informed General Claire Chennault about this amazing American living among the Chinese, even speaking their language. Chennault sent for him and commissioned him as a first lieutenant in the 14th Air Force, the fabled Flying Tigers. John would spend the remaining three years of the war organizing intelligence networks, guiding planes to their targets, and earning a well-deserved reputation as "the eyes of the 14th Air Force."

Much of the program featured commentary from John's younger brother, Robert, who accurately described him first and foremost as a man of God. But John's leadership ability and well-known heroism did not go unnoticed by Chinese ...