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'It (the Doolittle Raid) had three real purposes. One purpose was to give the folks at home the first good news that we'd had in World War II. It caused the Japanese to question their warlords. And from a tactical point of view, it caused the retention of aircraft in Japan for the defense of the home islands when we had no intention of hitting them again, seriously in the near future. Those airplanes would have been much more effective in the South Pacific where the war was going on.

A Navy Captain named Low, conceived the idea of taking Army medium bombers off of a Navy carrier and attacking Japan. The B-25 was selected because it was small, because it had the sufficient range to carry 2,000 lbs. of bombs, 2,000 miles, and because it took off and handled very well. First I found out what B-25 unit had had the most experience and then went to that crew, that organization and called for volunteers and the entire group, including the group commander, volunteered.'

-- General James "Jimmy" Doolittle
from an interview done in 1980.

A negative statement about rear eschelon high brass.

The Doolittle B-25s had their engines recalibrated by the factory's best working with the AAF's best. The aircraft engines were tuned for the altitude flown - good old flight profile, range, load, all the variables. Special parts were fitted. The engines were expected to last for the mission and not a minute longer. All correct.

The men and machines left Florida for Long Beach on schedule, stopping in Texas to refuel. The commander of the base found out about the "unauthorized" modifications, impounded the aircraft and returned them to "authorized" configuration. This delay nearly blew the mission. The senior officer of the flight couldn't get Doolittle on the horn, remember long distance telephone was nearly unknown in 1942. Western Union was all there was.

The aircraft were launched within the preplanned window, but with significantly less range. The crews knew that they did not have enough gas.

Read this story in some newspaper about ten years ago, on April 18th. I think it is true. Doolittle would not waste his men. Evil bastard, that Texas airbase commander.

At the great Nimitz museum in Fredericksburg, TX, there is a room with a Hornet deck mockup featuring an actual B-25 aircraft. I'm sure it is a later series type modified to look like a B model, with authentic color, insignia and tail number though. The rest of the planes are in a painted wall mural behind it. There is an audio of the unforgettable sound of a Wrignt engine cranking, over and over and over. Unfortunately it never "starts". I'm afraid the ship would have been rolled over the side after about the third failed start attempt on 4-18-42!