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Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor: A Story of Daring and Determination

Evan Simmons

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Published in Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle And The Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor

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On a cold December morning in 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack, which destroyed much of the Pacific Fleet, plunged the United States into World War II.

In the wake of the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt demanded a bold and decisive response. He tasked General George Marshall, the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, with developing a plan to strike back at Japan.

Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor

by James M. Scott

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Marshall turned to Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle, a decorated aviator and Medal of Honor recipient. Doolittle proposed a daring plan to launch a bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan, using B-25 bombers.

The Doolittle Raid

The Doolittle Raid was a complex and dangerous mission. The B-25 bombers would have to be launched from the deck of the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier, and then fly 2,500 miles to Tokyo. The bombers would then have to bomb their targets and then ditch in the ocean off the coast of China.

Doolittle handpicked 80 volunteers for the mission. The men were all highly skilled pilots and navigators. They trained for months, practicing takeoffs and landings on a simulated aircraft carrier deck.

On April 18, 1942, the USS Hornet set sail from San Francisco. The ship was escorted by a task force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

On April 19, the Hornet launched the B-25 bombers. The bombers took off in groups of two, and they flew in formation toward Tokyo.

The bombers reached Tokyo at dusk. They flew over the city at low altitude, dropping incendiary bombs on their targets. The bombs set fire to several buildings, including the Imperial Palace.

After bombing their targets, the bombers turned toward China. However, the bombers were running low on fuel. Several of the bombers ditched in the ocean, and the crews were captured by the Japanese.

The Aftermath of the Raid

The Doolittle Raid was a success. The bombers struck a blow against the Japanese war machine and boosted the morale of the American people.

The raid also had a number of negative consequences. The Japanese retaliated by bombing several Chinese cities, killing thousands of people.

The Doolittle Raid was a daring and successful mission that helped to turn the tide of the war in the Pacific. The raid also showed the world the courage and determination of the American people.

Jimmy Doolittle's Legacy

Jimmy Doolittle went on to have a long and distinguished career in the military. He retired from the Air Force in 1959 with the rank of general.

Doolittle died in 1993 at the age of 96. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Doolittle's legacy is one of courage, determination, and leadership. He was a true American hero.

Additional Resources

* [The Doolittle Raid: A Personal Account by Jimmy Doolittle](https://www.amazon.com/Doolittle-Raid-Personal-Account-Jimmy/dp/0451206778) * [The Doolittle Raid: America's First Strike Back at Japan](https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/doolittle-raid) * [The Doolittle Raid: A Photographic History](https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196196/doolittle-raid-a-photographic-history/)

Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor

by James M. Scott

4.8 out of 5