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Mr. and Mrs. Chandler H. Bitter 2745 Lake shore Drive Chicago, Illinois My dear Mr. and Mrs. Bitter: It is with pleasure, pride, and gratitude that i am able to inform you that your son, Wingman Edwin Howell Bitter, of the. American volunteer Group, was on March 1, 1942, invested with the Order of the Cloud Banner of the Republic of China, at the direction of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and simultaneously promoted to the rank of flight leader. Flight Leader Bitter was cited for his valor in the air, specifically the downing of five Japanese adrcraft in aerial combat during the period from December 23, 1941, through March 1, 1942.
I have learned that he has since then sent two more enemy aircraft down in flames. You must certainly take pride that your son is one of that group of brave and farsighted young men who sensed the danger not only to China, but to America and to freedom throughout the world, in the ruthless and predatory course of Japanese militarism. Not waiting to be called, this group went forward to meet the enemy, prepared to sacrifice themselves, if need be, in order that the democracies might gain precious time, that freedom might live, and that countless other lives might be saved.
The record already made by the American Volunteer Group in aerial combat against the Japanese is one of which every American may be proud. You may have heard that the American Volunteer Group has adopted as its emblem a Flying Tiger. The figure chosen was designed by Walt Disney Studios and shows a winged tiger leaping out of a Victory V. It is worn as a lapel insignia by your son and his comrades, and also appears in color on the fuselages of their planes. I have the honor to send, herewith, a gold replica of this insignia, as well as a gold miniature of the Order of the Cloud Banner.
As Foreign Minister of the Republic of China, I want to express to you on behalf of my countrymen and Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek personally the sense of honor that is ours that your son has allied himself with the Chinese people in the cause of freedom. Like Lafayette in America, these gallant young men will ever be gratefully enshrined in the memory of the Chinese people. Very truly yours, 7V 5" T. V Soong Minister for Foreign Affairs FIVE I The St. Regis Hotel Now York City April 7, 1942
Colonel William J. Donovan, in white silk pajamas, was propped up against the headboard of the double bed when Captain Peter Doug lass and Richard Canidy were shown into his room.
"Good morning Donovan said, offering his hand. Doug lass took it first, and then Canidy.
A "Nice to see you again, Canidy," Donovan said.
"Has Captain Doug lass told you what's wrong with me?"
"Yes, Sir," Canidy said. "And the medicine? Rat poison?"
"Yes, Sir," Canidy said, and grinned, "It's enough to drive a man to drink," Donovan joked.
"And it has." He gestured at a bottle of Pinch Bottle Haig & Haig on his bedside table. "I used to be, almost, a teetotaler."
Donovan waited for the chuckle he expected, then went on. "I consider this affair of MacArthur's letter to the President important," he said.
"Which is why I asked you to come up here and tell Me exactly what happened."
"Yes, Sir," they said, almost in unison.
"So let's start at the beginning," Donovan said.
"You first, I guess, Peter, but I want you to feel free to interrupt, Dick, whenever you think it's necessary."
"Well, after I spoke with you, Colonel," Doug lass said, "I called Alameda Naval Air Station. An old shipmate is in command, and he knew about Whittaker's return. He was traveling on orders signed by MacArthur's G-2, General Willoughby, which directed him to personally deliver to the President 'certain secret documents' placed in his possession. The last leg of his journey to the United States was, as I suspected, from Pearl Harbor to Alameda on that Catalina courier plane service the Navy operates." Doug lass hesitated.
"You said' exactly what happened, "Colonel. Captain Whittaker was dead drunk on arrival."
Donovan smiled.
"He do anything wrong?"
"His priority bumped a naval officer," Doug lass said.
"The senior officer of those who didn't get bumped felt it his duty to report Whittaker, The first thing Whittaker did on arrival was make a telephone call. I don't know to whom."
"He told me he called Mrs. Whittaker," Canidy furnished." Just the one telephone call?" Donovan asked.
"Yes, Sir, I think so," "His orders," Doug lass went on, "were brought to the attention of the air station command
er, my friend, who called around and found the next available space, military space, was on a B-25 being flown to Washington by a Brigadier General Jacobs. He arranged to have Jacobs diverted to Alameda. Shortly after Jacobs picked Whittaker up, I called out there."
"And what does Jacobs know, other than Whittaker had a high priority?"
Donovan asked. "Just that, Sir," Doug lass said, "Nothing about the letter. I then arranged to keep tabs on the flight as it came across the country. When it was due at Bolling, Canidy, Ellis, and I were there to meet it. I stayed in the car, and Canidy went to the plane to meet him.
Dick?"
"There was a colonel there who said he was from the Office of the Chief of Staff," Canidy said.
"He knew about the letter."
