The Doolittle Raid, April 18, 1942

Following Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the US military devised a bold plan to strike back at the Japanese. They would launch sixteen B25 bombers from a carrier to strike Tokyo. The bombers were not designed to land on carriers so the mission was designed as a one way mission with the pilots landing in China. The success of the raid on Tokyo 1) provided a morale boost in the United States, 2) provided proof of Japan’s vulnerability to the Japanese public, and 3) forced Japan to maintain a strong homeland air defense. See the Flash animation for more.