This special edition of Doolittle's biography commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the first "blind flight" and Dooliittle's entire career. It has been said that he led. "one of the most 'useful' lives of American history. Doolittle once stated his philosophy:I believe we were put on this earth for a purpose... to make it, within our capabilities, a better place in which to live. "He was a man of wisdom, humor, and warm humanity and a legend in his own time.