I guess we'll never know. Perhaps a dog.

The photo probably was taken either in North Africa in 1943 or possibly in England in 1944. He is a two star general here, promoted to that rank in November 1942. If the photo was taken in Italy it would have been in the fall of 1943. The Allies did not invade mainland Italy until September, though Sicily fell in mid-August. Sardinia was taken in September, Corsica (French) not until October. Doolittle went to England to command 8th AF in January 1944. He was promoted to lieutenant general in March.

Chase Nielsen:

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123046197

A few months ago, I was waiting in my chiropractor's office and started talking to a nice lady in her 80s. I quickly learned that she was the second wife of Doolittle Raider, Lt. Chase Jay Nielson. Lt. Nielsen was the navigator on the sixth bomber to take off. After dropping their bombs, they ran out of fuel before they could get to their intended destination. They were forced to ditch their bomber in the ocean off the China coast. Two men drowned in the process. The others were taken prisoner. One man was executed, in front of his comrades, and one died of malnutrition and ill treatment. Of his crew, only Lt. Nielsen managed to survive three and a half years in Japanese captivity and was repatriated at the end of the war. He returned home to Utah, married and raised a family, and lived until 2007. Of course, no one who lived through such a thing was ever completely freed of it.

I was honored to meet the sweet lady to was his companion in life, following the death of his first wife. I am posting a picture of the crew of bomber six. Lt. Nielsen is far left.

If it is Corsica, it is France; if it is Italy it might be Sardinia.