Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

[Texas Star]

YouTube - Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Part 1

Here's a link to watch Part I of the famous film, based on Capt. Ted Lawson's book. Ben Johnson played Lawson in the film.

You can see the rest of the movie by clicking on the links near the first one. Here's the attack, Part Ten: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtdxarsf6BM&feature=related

Great achievement. Good movie, too.

Back then, Hollywood actually supported our war effort.

Enjoy!

T-Star

 

[Texas Star]

Hello,

Actually, that was Van Johnson as Cpt. Lawson. Good movie.

Take care,

Oops. Sorry. Been up since last night. I need sleep. Better go get some.

T-Star

 

[Spotteddog]

I've long thought that the special effects MGM used on that film were quite impressive, given the fact that it was done some 66 years ago!

 

[PALADIN85020]

The recent movie "Pearl Harbor" showed the Doolittle raiders as well. Some ultra-left liberal movie star jerk played Doolittle.

 

[rewster]

The recent movie "Pearl Harbor" showed the Doolittle raiders as well. Some ultra-left liberal movie star jerk played Doolittle.

That only includes several hundred !!!

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Set here and watched the movie "again". There is no
telling how many times I have seen this movie over the
years, and it's still good. Don

 

[Mickey D]

Great movie and one of my favorite books.

Found this first edition copy last spring.

 

[sipowicz]

Mickey, can you use a highlighter on the good parts and then send it to me to read....thanks

 

[Texas Star]

That only includes several hundred !!!

One of the Baldwins, I think Alec?

Is he the one who supposedly abused Kim Basinger while married to her? He's supposed to have a pretty bad temper.

 

[Spotteddog]

T/S,
Be willin' to bet you could find a volunteer or two amongst us to help hold him down long enough for Kim to kick his-----
Well, you get the idea...
(The only thing I hate worse than beating a dog, is a woman or a kid hitter.)

 

[Bullseye 2620]

I hadn't seen this movie in years. Really enjoyed it. Thanks for posting this.


Bullseye

 

[snowman]

Yikes! Did they really fly that low?(I watched Part 10) Looked like the cropdusters around here.

Andy

 

[PALADIN85020]

One of the Baldwins, I think Alec?

Is he the one who supposedly abused Kim Basinger while married to her? He's supposed to have a pretty bad temper.

Yeah, that's the above-mentioned jerk. I was trying to forget his name, and had succeeded until your post!

 

[Texas Star]

I hadn't seen this movie in years. Really enjoyed it. Thanks for posting this.


Bullseye

You're very welcome! Thanks for telling me.

T-Star

 

[PALADIN85020]

T-star:

Now you've done it. Watching the bits on the internet caused me to go and order the DVD from Amazon. I really want to sit down and watch it all the way through.

One item bothered me in the movie bits I saw. It showed the B-25s sporting machine guns. As I understand it, the Doolittle raiders had removed their planes' machine guns to save weight, helping to enable their short takeoff distance with a full load of bombs. Anything not having to do with flying or dropping bombs was removed for weight savings. I think my memory is correct on this.

 

[Cyrano]

Paladin; several times, in various contexts, i've seen actual footage of the B 25s taking off from the Hornet. Of course I don't remember if they had MGs or not. But if you can find any of that video, it would tell you yes or no

 

[Texas Star]

T-star:

Now you've done it. Watching the bits on the internet caused me to go and order the DVD from Amazon. I really want to sit down and watch it all the way through.

One item bothered me in the movie bits I saw. It showed the B-25s sporting machine guns. As I understand it, the Doolittle raiders had removed their planes' machine guns to save weight, helping to enable their short takeoff distance with a full load of bombs. Anything not having to do with flying or dropping bombs was removed for weight savings. I think my memory is correct on this.

I read Ted Lawson's book. I think they took out some guns, but left the top turret ones and a .30 cal. for the bombadier. They also mounted black-painted broomsticks as fake tail guns, hoping to scare off attackers from that direction.

Lawson also detailed the personal arms taken by his crew. He even had his wife's Colt pocket auto, I think a .32. Lots of personally-owned firearms and knives.

The B-25-B used did not normally have tail guns. Those came later, as well as waist guns. But they hoped that the Japs didn't know that.

I have seen footage of the actual planes leaving the Hornet, and I think you can see the guns.

I believe that you'll enjoy the movie. I've seen it several times, and it is pretty good.

Does anyone know what happened to Lawson? I think he was injured badly enough not to remain on active duty. I hope they at least gave him a Medical discharge.

T-Star

 

[Texas Star]

YouTube - The Doolittle Raid - April 18, 1942


This is actual footage pertaining to the raid. You can see the machine guns (top turrets) and the broom sticks in the tail, although the resolution isn't the best.

Look especially sharply at: 2:57 and 4:06.

I couldn't see the nose guns, but they may have been withdrawn into the plexiglass canopy until the gunner ran them out for use. I'm almost sure that Lawson mentioned them.

I have the movie, "Midway" and I think either it or, "Pearl Harbor" featured clips of the real raiders taking off. I'll check, "Midway."

T-Star

 

[PALADIN85020]

T-Star:

Thanks for the additional info re: the machine guns. Guess my memory is not as flawless as I thought!

 

[enfield]

Read that book when I was a kid. Read "Guadalcanal Diary" more than once also.

Giants once walked the earth.