PODCAST: HISTORY UNPLUGGED
J. Edgar Hoover’s 50-Year Career of Blackmail, Entrapment, and Taking Down Communist Spies

Loading...
The Doolittle Raid was a daring bombing mission carried out by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The mission was led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle and carried out on April 18, 1942, just a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The raid was significant in that it marked the first time the United States had struck back at Japan after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. This article will provide an overview of the Doolittle Raid and its impact on the war.
Doolittle Raid
Background
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States was determined to strike back at Japan. However, at the time, the U.S. military did not have the capability to launch a full-scale attack on Japan. In response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the development of a plan to bomb Japan using B-25 bombers launched from an aircraft carrier.
The Plan
The Doolittle raid involved launching 16 B-25 bombers from the deck of the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier, which would then fly to Japan and drop their bombs on targets in Tokyo and other cities. The mission was incredibly risky, as the B-25s had never been launched from an aircraft carrier before, and it was uncertain whether they would be able to take off from the short runway on the carrier’s deck. Additionally, the bombers did not have enough fuel to make it all the way to a safe landing site in China, which meant that the crew members would have to bail out or crash-land in Japanese-controlled territory.
The Mission
On April 18, 1942, the 16 B-25 bombers took off from the deck of the USS Hornet and headed towards Japan. They flew over 800 miles, dropping their bombs on targets in Tokyo and other cities before turning towards China. Unfortunately, due to a miscalculation, the bombers did not have enough fuel to make it to the designated landing sites in China. As a result, the crews were forced to bail out or crash-land in Japanese-occupied territory.
Impact
Despite the fact that not all of the bombers made it to China and several crew members were captured by the Japanese, the Doolittle Raid was considered a success. It was the first time the United States had struck back at Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor and it provided a much-needed boost to American morale. Additionally, the raid caused significant damage to Japan’s industrial and military infrastructure, which forced them to divert resources to repair the damage instead of using them to expand their empire.
Sources:
“The Doolittle Raid.” National Museum of the United States Air Force. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196181/the-doolittle-raid/.
“Doolittle Raid.” History.com. A&E Television Networks. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/doolittle-raid.
“Doolittle Raid.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Accessed March 2, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/event/Doolittle-Raid.

Cite This Article
"The Doolittle Raid: America’s Daring First Strike Against Japan" History on the Net
© 2000-2024, Salem Media.
March 29, 2024 <https://www.historyonthenet.com/the-doolittle-raid-americas-daring-first-strike-against-japan>
More Citation Information.
×