[ken5050]

Great read..thanks...what's curious is what the author might have added at the end..that American pilots successfully intercepted and killed Yamamoto later on in the war, a measure that probably did much to contribute to Japan's loss, and probably helped save thousands of Americans......Sadam..are you listening?

[sanchmo]

Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, USAAF (front), leader of the raiding force, wires a Japanese medal to a 500-pound bomb, during ceremonies on the flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8), shortly before his force of sixteen B-25B bombers took off for Japan. The planes were launched on 18 April 1942. The wartime censor has obscurred unit patches of the Air Force flight crew members in the background.

[texson66]

A Salute to the Airmen and Sailors of the Doolittle Raid

WW2 vets, Thanks for Your Sacrifice and Devotion to Duty for our Great Nation! God bless you and America!

[onedoug]

Familiar with the arguments as to why it didn't happen, I still think most of them should've gone for the Emperor's palace.

Thanks for posting. And thanks for the pix, sanchmo.

[Joe Boucher]

I've read many books about Doolittles raid over tokyo. He and each of his men were true American heros. Also the Chineese who helped each of his airmen suffered greatly. Many airmen were injured in ditchings. The Chineese were so egar to do anything against the Japaneese due to the murderous treatment from the Japaneese. Many helped even though they knew of the danger. The Japaneese were butchers and to this day I find them in contempt.

[NativeNewYorker]

Excellent post. Thank you.

Like so much of our truly glorious history, this episode risks being forgotten in the great PC whitewash of the past.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this excellent article and review of the bravery of these Bomber personnel!

These historical accounts must be retold for our children and grandchildren. Thanks again!

[sandydipper]

Good Reading - My father-in-law William Medak was on board the Hornet when she launched the B-25's - as a dive bomber maintenance crewman and was "stanby" in case a '25 crewman got sick and had to be replaced. He also spent some time in the water when the Japs sank Hornet on 10-26-42. I love to hear him talk.

[larryjohnson]

My Air Force flag flies today.

[aomagrat]

Great post!

60th Doolittle Raiders Reunion

[rockfish59]

The Hornet Museum

This was the one built after CV-8 was sunk.
CV-12 destroyed almost 1,500 Jap planes and was never hit by a Kamikaze.
This ship has a fantastic history!
I'd always hoped they'd berth the Missouri on the other side of the pier in Alameda.

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

There is a movie, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokoyo", based on a story by a Doolittle Raid Pilot Ted Lawson (played by Van Johnson).

It followed the book very closely and very well done.

[Bobsat]

Excellent article, except "many of the planes stalled on take-off" didn't happen. None of the B-25s stalled on take-off, which is evidenced by the fact that none of them crashed right after leaving the Hornet. They should have asked a pilot to proof read the copy....

[JAWs]

The Medal of Honor citation from The Army Center for Military History.

DOOLITTLE, JAMES H. (Air Mission)

Rank and organization: Brigadier General, U.S. Army. Air Corps. Place and date: Over Japan. Entered service at: Berkeley, Calif. Birth: Alameda, Calif. G.O. No.: 29, 9 June 1942. Citation: For conspicuous leadership above the call of duty, involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life. With the apparent certainty of being forced to land in enemy territory or to perish at sea, Gen. Doolittle personally led a squadron of Army bombers, manned by volunteer crews, in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland.

[VOA]

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