On April 18, 1942, 16 American B-25 bombers, launched from
the aircraft carrier USS Hornet 650 miles east of Japan and
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle,
attacked the Japanese mainland.
The now-famous Tokyo Raid did little real damage to Japan
(wartime Premier Hideki Tojo was inspecting military bases
during the raid; one B-25 came so close, Tojo could see the
pilot, though the American bomber never fired a shot)—but
it did hurt the Japanese government’s prestige.
Believing the air raid had been launched from Midway Island,
approval was given to Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s plans for
an attack on Midway—which would also damage Japanese
“prestige.” Doolittle eventually received the Medal of Honor.
LT. COL. JIMMY DOOLITTLE (left) WITH TOKYO RAIDERS.
James Harold Doolittle (1896 – 1993)
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