Jonna Doolittle Hoppes

Hoppes works at the 61st Mission Support Squadron's Educational Office - a unit of the 61st Air Base Group stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base.[5] She started her first book in response to the film, Pearl Harbor, to correct inaccuracies about her grandfather's character and actions during World War II.[9] Actor Alec Baldwin initially portrayed Doolittle as an ill-tempered man prone to using profanity, but the depiction was corrected after Hoppes presented the family's objections.[11] Although Calculated Risk presented the achievements of Jimmy Doolittle, the book also included many details about the family such as Doolittle's wife of 71 years, Josephine Daniels. One reviewer described the book as "an ode to her grandmother",[2] whom Hoppes herself described as a woman with the patience of a saint who was the rudder of Doolittle's life.[12] Calculated Risk received positive reviews from a number of trade publications including Library Journal,[13] Publishers Weekly,[14] and Booklist.[15]

Hoppes' fulfilled her passion for meeting people of the Greatest Generation and hearing the stories of their service. Her second book, Just Doing My Job, is a collection of such stories to educate the public and to document the personal reflections for future generations. A review by Publishers Weekly found the story about Japanese-American soldier, Dick Hamada, who worked for the Office of Strategic Services intelligence agency "particularly fascinating."[16] Hoppes called for veterans of all conflicts to record their stories using programs such as the Veterans History Project.[17] We Represented All Women, Hoppes' account of Violet “Vi” Cowden of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), appeared on the Air & Space/Smithsonian web site in June 2009.[18]

Hoppes is working on a third book that will include interviews with other World War II veterans including Major General Johnny Alison.[19] As of 2013, Hoppes serves on the board of directors for the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho,[20] and the Air Force Historical Foundation.[21]

Hoppes provided insight to a number of television programs. In 2007, she appeared on From Vengeance to Forgiveness, the story of Corporal Jake DeShazer, a Doolittle Raider who was captured by the Japanese. Although he suffered years of abuse at the hands of his captors, DeShazer later forgave his enemies and returned to Japan as a missionary.[22] In 2008, Hoppes appeared on The History Channel's Man, Moment, Machine series that described historical events in the context of the key person involved, the machine used by that person, and the outcome of the moment. In the episode Doolittle's Daring Raid, Hoppes described her grandfather's childhood and love of flying.[23] She also described the despair her grandfather felt when he thought the raid on Japan had failed.[24]

Hoppes speaking at the Fantasy of Flight's Officer's Club in 2011

Hoppes began giving presentations to the public to ensure the memory of her grandfather was accurately portrayed.[17] She has since presented many lectures at events throughout the United States and Europe including:

• Growing up with General James Doolittle—A General Electric Aviation series lecture held on April 6, 2006 at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.[25]
• Doolittle Returns to Bassingbourn—A photographic remembrance of Jimmy Doolittle held on May 23, 2009 at the Tower Museum at RAF Bassingbourn, England. The noted B-17, Memphis Belle, operated from this base during World War II.[26]
• Global Warfare Symposium—An Air Force Association symposium focused on integrating space and cyberspace across warfighting domains held on November 19–20, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.[27]
• 70th Anniversary of the Tokyo attack—A news conference held on May 5, 2012 at the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda, California with Doolittle Raiders Staff Seargent David J. Thatcher, Major Thomas C. Griffin, and Major Edward J. Saylor.[8]
• Wings of Valor Gala—Key note speaker at a dinner fundraiser held on October 13, 2012 at Van Nuys Airport benefitting the Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum.[28]

As of 2011, Hoppes lives in Newport Beach, California.[11] She has two adult daughters, Stacy and Shawna.[29]