Wikipedia

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I've heard of it before but I didn't know it came only 4 months after Pearl Harbor.

The pilots knew they would not return to their carrier and hoped to land (probably crash) in friendly (?) China - that's some big cojones.

In our elementary school library in the 50's, Ted Lawson's "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" had the longest waiting list.  It's an excellent and gripping account of the raid as well as the training for it as seen by Lawson, you pretty much are with him all the way.  I think there was a movie about the raid back then also.

I haven't had time to research this, but if I remember correctly, the crews were not told exactly what the mission was all about as they trained, part of the training was to get the B-25's airborne within an unusually short distance, and they were given an opportunity when the mission was finally disclosed to back out, none of them did.  I believe the training took place in Eglin Air Base in the Florida panhandle.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

It was an important mission for obvious reasons, but also, in the wake of Pearl Harbor, important psychologically for the U.S.

The crews knew they couldn't get back to the carrier, the mission was planned for them to somehow make it to China.  They certainly were brave and deserve great recognition for the mission, and all, including those that did not survive, will always be heroes.

Apex wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2009 at 12:07pm:

EXCELLENT FRIGGIN' BOOK!

Can you guess where I got my SimV Alias?

Wasn't Doolittle the only one to actually "land"?  I believe they got him the **** out of Dodge shortly thereafter

Yeah, that's right, Lawson's B-25 was named "The Ruptured Duck".  Cool.

Lots of stuff on Wikipedia about the raid, great reading:

"Doolittle and his crew, after safely parachuting into China. . . "

So no, Doolittle did not land.

james007 wrote on Aug 28^th, 2009 at 9:22pm:


I have to disagree with ya there.  The Doolitte Raid was a complete, total and resounding success. 

All targets were hit within the set distance given the lack of the sophisticated sights removed.

No planes shot down over Japanese home soil.

The Enterprise and Hornet along with their entire escort groups returned to Pearl.

(THE MOST IMPORTANT)
The Japanese High Command got a smack in the Face.  Loss of Face being the Japanese version of being dissed or bitch slapped or something like that.

And the High Command had to divert resources to the defense of the home islands that would otherwise have been available to combat commanders to prosecute the war against the Allied forces.  I dont beleive the war could have been won with those resources but it certainly would have lasted longer and been bloodier in the Pacific Theater for the Allies.

Also the the Allies were able to fight the Two-Hemisphere War Plan more aggressively and effectively with the Japanese in a more conservative and defensive stance than they would otherwise have been in without the Doolittle Raid.

The Bad Penny Has Spoken!

Thus, a successful mision, if only from our 20/20 perspective.

I too respecfuly disagree with you. No mission where all the Bomber involve in a mission regardless where they where shot down over enemy lines or not and with so little damage done to enemy would be consider a success.

I have never read of any Mission in World war two from either side where all the Bomber involved where lost on a Military mission and was still call a success.

This those not take away from the Heroism of Doolittle and his crew and the propaganda benefit to the war to the Allies!