Doolittle leads air raid on Tokyo
On this day in 1942 16 American B-25 bombers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet 650 miles east of Japan and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James H.Doolittle attack the Japanese mainland.The now-famous Tokyo Raid did little real damage to Japan (wartime Premier Hideki Tojo was inspecting military bases during the raid one B-25 came so close Tojo could see the pilot though the American bomber never fired a shot)but it did hurt the Japanese governments prestige.Believing the air raid had been launched from Midway Island approval was given to Admiral Isoroku Yamamotos plans for an attack on Midwaywhich would also damage Japanese prestige.
Doolittle was eventually awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.A book describing the raid 30 Seconds Over Tokyo by Ted Lawson was adapted into a film starring Spencer Tracy in 1944.
