The Doolittle raid on Japan

**The Aviator** · 11-18-2007, 04:25 PM

The full story of 80 brave men
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Doolittle Raider 80 Brave Men

The Doolittle Raid, 18 April 1942 was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese home island of Honshū during World War II. The mission was notable since it was the only time in U.S. military history that United States Army Air Forces bombers were launched from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier on a combat mission. The Doolittle Raid demonstrated that the Japanese home islands were vulnerable to Allied air attack, and it provided an expedient means for U.S. retaliation for Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

The raid was planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, already a famous civilian aviator and aeronautical engineer before the war. The raid, however, had its roots in the mind of Navy Captain Francis Low, who early in the war predicted that, under the right conditions, twin-engined Army bombers could be successfully launched from an aircraft carrier.

Requirements for the aircraft were for a cruising range of 2,400 miles (3,900 km) with a 2,000 pound (900 kg) bomb load. The B-26 Marauder and B-23 Dragon were also considered, but the B-26 had questionable takeoff characteristics from a carrier deck, and the B-23's wingspan was nearly 50% greater than the B-25's, reducing the number that could be taken aboard a carrier and posing risks to the ship's island. Subsequent tests with three North American B-25B Mitchells at Norfolk indicated it could be launched from a carrier, hit military targets in Japan, and fly on to land in China. Negotiations with the Soviet Union to land in Siberia, shortening the flight by 600 miles (970 km), were fruitless.[1]

**spidge** · 11-19-2007, 01:26 AM

An inspirational feat which stirred the Japanese into further action.

**The Aviator** · 11-19-2007, 01:40 AM

Hhahah. You sound like a real stick in the mud Spidge. It was kickin' some Jap arse.
The way they are going down here with killing the humpback whales we might just have to kick some more.

**spidge** · 11-19-2007, 01:43 AM

I have two things against the Japanese.

They have not apologised for their ww2 atrocities!

And they hunt whales and dolphins.

**Antipodean Andy** · 11-19-2007, 01:54 AM

That'd be about my prob with them too, Spidgeman and TA. Wonderful country though, amazing place...well, what two full on days can imprint on me anyway!