It is said that much resources were diverted to protect the mainland because of it, and it forced the IJN to become more aggressive, resulting in Midway.
God Bless those men. Even today, I would lift a glass to them.
I am not sure the mission was a good idea tho the men who flew them were indeed heroes. When they were launched they had little hope of reaching a safe destination. I really think they should have gotten the 500 miles closer despite the fishing boat having gotten off a message.
The loss of 16 B-25s and a lot of their crews was worth a lot more than the damage they did.
It may have had morale value but who knows for sure? It might have even made the Japanese more adamant in fighting against us.
Ironically, it was a major victory for the US, as it caused the Japanese to (mostly) recall their fleets when there was very little to oppose them.
This early in the war, the loss of 16 B-25s was fairly significant but by 1943/44 standards was modest.
It may have had morale value but who knows for sure? It might have even made the Japanese more adamant in fighting against us.
The raid solidified Japanese resolve to invade Midway and things went pretty well for the Americans at Midway.
I doubt that the men who flew the mission would agree with you.
I don’t either. But you’re certainly welcome to your opinion.
>I really think they should have gotten the 500 miles closer despite the fishing boat having gotten off a message.
Sir, that is stupid beyond belief. Our carrier would certainly have been sunk - 16 B-25s whose only value was minimal without forward bases to reach any target was slight loss in context of the war and their staying out & doing nothing would have added nothing at all to the war effort in the pacific theater.
Who knows for sure?? The public at that time and the men who flew the mission, thats who!
I am not sure the mission was a good idea tho the men who flew them were indeed heroes. When they were launched they had little hope of reaching a safe destination. I really think they should have gotten the 500 miles closer despite the fishing boat having gotten off a message.
The loss of 16 B-25s and a lot of their crews was worth a lot more than the damage they did.
It may have had morale value but who knows for sure? It might have even made the Japanese more adamant in fighting against us.
We needed to retaliate for Pearl Harbor.
It was psychologically positive for America and had a negative impact on the Japanese.
It increased our resolve to defeat the Japanese.
The Japanese High Command knew they were going to eventually be beaten.
To paraphrase Admiral Yamamoto: “All we have done is awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve”.
They couldn't risk the carriers, Hornet and Enterprise. They only had three in the whole Pacific when the war started, two more were added, but Saratoga had been torpedoed and was on the West Coast for repairs, so only 4 were operational at the time of the Doolittle raid. Those carriers and the power they represented was worth a whole lot more than the B-25s, and their crews too. Remember the carriers had crews too, highly trained ones in many positions on the ship, and not easily replaced. It was a risky move to begin with, but the risk went way up when they were spotted. They had no way of knowing the boats did not get off a successful contact report.
The Doolittle Raid showed the world that America would fight back and take the fight to the enemy.
It is said that much resources were diverted to protect the mainland because of it, and it forced the IJN to become more aggressive, resulting in Midway.
God Bless those men. Even today, I would lift a glass to them.