The Doolittle Raiders

April 18th, 1942

The Doolittle Raid

President Roosevelt wanted to find a way to get back at the Japanese for Pearl HarborWanted to surprise the JapaneseBoost morale in the United StatesProve the U.S. was capable of striking back.

Lt. Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle

Born in CA, raised in Alaska

Flight instructor during WWI

Test Pilot and aeronautical engineer between the wars Earned the Distinguished

Flying Cross Helped develop instrument

flying Set world’s speed record at

296 mph

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The Doolittle Raid

16 B-25 bombers took off from the U.S.S. HornetAttacked 5 major cities in Japan, including

Toyko Launch point was 450 miles from Japan

A Japanese fishing boat discovered them 200 miles before their launch point

Plane Modifications

Removal of the lower gun turret Installation of de-icers and anti-icers Steel blast plates mounted on the fuselage around the

upper turret Removal of the liaison radio set Installation of three additional fuel tanks and support

mounts in the bomb bay, crawl way and lower turret area to increase fuel capacity from 646 to 1,141 U.S. gallons (2,445 to 4,319 litres)

Mock gun barrels installed in the tail cone Replacement of their Norden bombsight with a makeshift

aiming sight.

Cont.

All 16 planes hit their target cities The early launch forced all crews to either

bail out early or ditch their plane in the ocean15 planes headed for China1 to Vladistok, Russia3 died, 8 captured, 4 of which died/killed

Of the 50 who parachuted, 49 reached the ground safely

Results

Japanese killed 250,000 Chinese civilians looking for the downed airmen

Attack did little actual damage, but boosted morale in U.S. and forced Japan to defend their home islandJapanese thought the U.S. had developed a

new long range aircraft.

Crew

Every participant received Distinguished Flying Cross2 received Silver StarDoolittle received the Medal of HonorDoolittle received Presidential Medal of

Freedom in 1989.

U.S.S. Hornet