The Doolittle Raid on Japan
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 8:00 am
American Veterans Center
This week marks one of the most difficult, daring, and dangerous moments in American military history: the 82nd anniversary of the legendary Doolittle Raid.
On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 bombers launched from the USS Hornet, situated deep in enemy-controlled waters, and flew towards Japan.
Led by the famed aviator Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, these volunteer crews embarked on a perilous mission to strike back at the heart of the Japanese empire – just months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor.
That was just the beginning of the challenges that the Doolittle Raiders faced!
The pilots were lifting off in a B-25 at 50 miles per hour after a 500-foot taxi – less than half the speed and distance they were accustomed to. To lighten the load, all unnecessary equipment was stripped from their planes.
And they bravely launched their attack in poor weather … against an alerted Japan … with already perilously-limited fuel supplies … being 200 miles further from the Japanese coast than planned … and in the middle of the day, which was a far easier time for attacks in response to the American B-25s.
Despite the incredible odds and the challenging conditions they faced, ALL of these courageous Raiders successfully reached their targets and inflicted damage on key Japanese military installations.
The raid struck fear into the heart of the Japanese command, forcing them to recall fighter units back home to defend against further attacks – a strategic shift that would have huge consequences at the pivotal Battle of Midway.
Tragically, after the Doolittle Raid, fifteen of the sixteen crews were forced to bail out or crash land in China due to low remaining fuel. Tragically, eight of the Raiders were captured and three were executed by the Japanese.
This week marks one of the most difficult, daring, and dangerous moments in American military history: the 82nd anniversary of the legendary Doolittle Raid.
On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 bombers launched from the USS Hornet, situated deep in enemy-controlled waters, and flew towards Japan.
Led by the famed aviator Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, these volunteer crews embarked on a perilous mission to strike back at the heart of the Japanese empire – just months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor.
That was just the beginning of the challenges that the Doolittle Raiders faced!
The pilots were lifting off in a B-25 at 50 miles per hour after a 500-foot taxi – less than half the speed and distance they were accustomed to. To lighten the load, all unnecessary equipment was stripped from their planes.
And they bravely launched their attack in poor weather … against an alerted Japan … with already perilously-limited fuel supplies … being 200 miles further from the Japanese coast than planned … and in the middle of the day, which was a far easier time for attacks in response to the American B-25s.
Despite the incredible odds and the challenging conditions they faced, ALL of these courageous Raiders successfully reached their targets and inflicted damage on key Japanese military installations.
The raid struck fear into the heart of the Japanese command, forcing them to recall fighter units back home to defend against further attacks – a strategic shift that would have huge consequences at the pivotal Battle of Midway.
Tragically, after the Doolittle Raid, fifteen of the sixteen crews were forced to bail out or crash land in China due to low remaining fuel. Tragically, eight of the Raiders were captured and three were executed by the Japanese.