This day in 1942

Gums · by **Gums** » 18 Apr 2021, 03:39

Salute!

Depending on how you interpret the Dateline, 18 April is the one historians use.

Jimmy Doolittle and his motley crew took off from the Hornet and bombed the Empire.

Try: https://b-25history.org/doolittle/training.htm

Neat, as I live ten miles from the training site and have been there a few times.

Gums sends...

sprstdlyscottsmn · by **sprstdlyscottsmn** » 19 Apr 2021, 02:09

An amazing feat of airmanship.

hornetfinn · by **hornetfinn** » 19 Apr 2021, 12:55

Fun fact: Exactly a year later, 18th April 1943 there was Operation Vengeance where P-38G Lightnings were tasked to kill Admiral Yamamoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy. They did succeed in a 600 miles intercept based on a message that code-breakers managed to break several days prior, although they did even misread part of that message... :shock:

http://www.frabr245.org/Mil%20Hist%20-%20WWII%20Operation%20%20%20Vengeance.pdf

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 19 Apr 2021, 15:17

Amazing aviating, on both counts.

The B-25 that took off first I think, from the Hornet... That video footage is some of the scariest I've ever seen. Can't even imagine the courage it took to take off, nevermind bomb Japan on what amounted to a suicide mission! Doolitte reportedly thought he would be court martialed after landing in China.

Instead, he rightfully was recognized for his efforts at the highest levels.

joost · by **joost** » 20 Apr 2021, 10:47

The most amazing fact about the Doolittle raid was its knock on effect leading to the diminish of the IJN carrier fleet. Despite the minor damage caused by the raid, the Japanese deemed it necessary to strengthen their outer defenses to avoid new air raids, leading to the plan to conquer Midway and the subsequent defeat at the battle of Midway.
So without realizing it, these brave men had contributed more then they would have ever imagined with the attack.

Gums · by **Gums** » 20 Apr 2021, 13:33

Salute!

Joost brings up the most significant result of the raid. OTOH, the intell that pin pointed Midway as the target of the IJN was crucial. Ditto for the amazing timing and navigation by the USAAF P-38 folks.

Without the amazing Midway results, it would have been a very prolonged war in the Pacific.

Gums sends...