Texas Star
US Veteran
YouTube - Doolittle Tokio Air Raid 1942 - original footage
In 30-foot swells, the B-25B bombers commanded by Lt. Col. James Doolittle launch from the deck of USS Hornet, April 18, 1942.
Having been sighted by Jap fishing craft, the mission launched 200 miles sooner than expected, resulting in the loss of all 16 planes as they crash-landed in China or Russia. But 71 of the 80 men involved survived and returned to the USA. Some, like Capt. Ted Lawson, who wrote the famous book, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" were badly injured.
But they had taught the Japanese a terrible lesson: America may not be molested with impunity! His was the first of many raids conducted later by larger planes with far more devastating bomb loads. But he raised Allied morale at a crucial time, and put the Japs on notice that a sleeping giant had been awakened and filled with a terrible resolve, as the Japanese Admiral Yammamoto had prophesied.
Doolittle became a general, and accepted the Medal of Honor on behalf of his crews. They had made history.
I was infuriated today when I learned via a video by Doollittle's granddaughter that Hollywood had tried to make a bumbling buffoon of the general for the film, "Pearl Harbor." Fortunately, the family was able to work with the film maker to get his role altered to one more accurate. But what that incident says about Hollywood is as revolting as it was courageous of the general and his men to undertake that vital mission.
T-Star
In 30-foot swells, the B-25B bombers commanded by Lt. Col. James Doolittle launch from the deck of USS Hornet, April 18, 1942.
Having been sighted by Jap fishing craft, the mission launched 200 miles sooner than expected, resulting in the loss of all 16 planes as they crash-landed in China or Russia. But 71 of the 80 men involved survived and returned to the USA. Some, like Capt. Ted Lawson, who wrote the famous book, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" were badly injured.
But they had taught the Japanese a terrible lesson: America may not be molested with impunity! His was the first of many raids conducted later by larger planes with far more devastating bomb loads. But he raised Allied morale at a crucial time, and put the Japs on notice that a sleeping giant had been awakened and filled with a terrible resolve, as the Japanese Admiral Yammamoto had prophesied.
Doolittle became a general, and accepted the Medal of Honor on behalf of his crews. They had made history.
I was infuriated today when I learned via a video by Doollittle's granddaughter that Hollywood had tried to make a bumbling buffoon of the general for the film, "Pearl Harbor." Fortunately, the family was able to work with the film maker to get his role altered to one more accurate. But what that incident says about Hollywood is as revolting as it was courageous of the general and his men to undertake that vital mission.
T-Star
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