Doolittle Raiders
In the weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a directive that efforts be made to directly attack Japan as soon as possible. In addition to achieving a degree of retribution, Roosevelt sought to show the Japanese people that they were not invulnerable to attack as well as to boost flagging American morale. While ideas for meeting the president's request were being sought, Captain Francis Low, the US Navy's Assistant Chief of Staff for Anti-submarine Warfare, conceived a possible solution for striking the Japanese home islands.
Captain Low’s proposal was to fly a medium size bomber off the deck of aircraft carrier and then land either in the Soviet Union (first choice) or China (second choice). The idea was approved and planning began. The planning and execution of the mission was entrusted to Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle. Assessing the idea, Doolittle initially hoped to take off from a carrier, bomb Japan, and then land at bases near Vladivostok in the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union was approached about the idea and denied the use of their bases as they were not at war with Japan. As a result, Doolittle's bombers would be forced to fly 600 miles further and land at bases in China.
In order to make the trip to Japan and then land in China modifications had to be made to the planes to accommodate more fuel and to lighten the plane as much as possible. Some of the changes made in the aircraft were the removal of the lower gun turret and bombsights, as well as the installation of additional fuel tanks and de-icing equipment. Meanwhile Doolittle's crews trained relentlessly at Eglin Field in Florida where they practiced carrier take offs, low-altitude flying and bombing, and night flying.
At 7:38 AM on April 18, the American ships were spotted by the Japanese picket boat. Though quickly sunk by USS Nashville, the crew was able to radio an attack warning to Japan.
Captain Low’s proposal was to fly a medium size bomber off the deck of aircraft carrier and then land either in the Soviet Union (first choice) or China (second choice). The idea was approved and planning began. The planning and execution of the mission was entrusted to Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle. Assessing the idea, Doolittle initially hoped to take off from a carrier, bomb Japan, and then land at bases near Vladivostok in the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union was approached about the idea and denied the use of their bases as they were not at war with Japan. As a result, Doolittle's bombers would be forced to fly 600 miles further and land at bases in China.
In order to make the trip to Japan and then land in China modifications had to be made to the planes to accommodate more fuel and to lighten the plane as much as possible. Some of the changes made in the aircraft were the removal of the lower gun turret and bombsights, as well as the installation of additional fuel tanks and de-icing equipment. Meanwhile Doolittle's crews trained relentlessly at Eglin Field in Florida where they practiced carrier take offs, low-altitude flying and bombing, and night flying.
At 7:38 AM on April 18, the American ships were spotted by the Japanese picket boat. Though quickly sunk by USS Nashville, the crew was able to radio an attack warning to Japan.
USS Nashville
Deciding to launch early, Doolittle's crews manned their aircraft and began taking off at 8:20 AM. As the mission had been compromised, Doolittle elected to utilize the reserve aircraft in the raid. Aloft by 9:19 AM, the sixteen aircraft proceeded towards Japan in groups of two to four aircraft before dropping down to low altitude to avoid detection. Coming ashore, the raiders spread out and struck ten targets in Tokyo, two in Yokohama, and one each in Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya, and Yokosuka. For the attack, each aircraft carried three high explosive bombs and one incendiary bomb.
With one exception, all of the aircraft delivered their ordnance and enemy resistance was light. Turning southwest, fifteen of the raiders steered for China, while one, low on fuel, made for the Soviet Union. As they proceeded, the China-bound aircraft quickly realized that they lacked the fuel to reach their intended bases due to the earlier departure. This led to each air crew being forced to ditch their aircraft and parachute to safety or attempt a crash landing. The sixteenth B-25 succeeded in landing in Soviet territory where the plane was confiscated and the crew interned.
As the raiders landed in China, most were aided by local Chinese forces or civilians. The survivors of two crews (8 men) were captured by the Japanese and three were executed after a show trial. A fourth died while a prisoner. The crew that landed in the Soviet Union escaped internment in 1943, when they were able to cross into Iran.
With one exception, all of the aircraft delivered their ordnance and enemy resistance was light. Turning southwest, fifteen of the raiders steered for China, while one, low on fuel, made for the Soviet Union. As they proceeded, the China-bound aircraft quickly realized that they lacked the fuel to reach their intended bases due to the earlier departure. This led to each air crew being forced to ditch their aircraft and parachute to safety or attempt a crash landing. The sixteenth B-25 succeeded in landing in Soviet territory where the plane was confiscated and the crew interned.
As the raiders landed in China, most were aided by local Chinese forces or civilians. The survivors of two crews (8 men) were captured by the Japanese and three were executed after a show trial. A fourth died while a prisoner. The crew that landed in the Soviet Union escaped internment in 1943, when they were able to cross into Iran.
Though the raid inflicted little damage on Japan, it provided a much needed boost to American morale and forced the Japanese to recall fighter units to defend the home islands. The use of land-based bombers also confused the Japanese and when asked by reporters where the attack had originated, Roosevelt replied, "They came from our secret base at Shangri-La." Landing in China, Doolittle believed the raid to have been a dismal failure due to the loss of the aircraft and the minimal damage inflicted. Expecting to be court-martialed upon his return, he was instead awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and directly promoted to brigadier general.