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Photo # 80-G-41196: Army B-25 bomber takes off from USS Hornet at the start of the Doolittle Raid on Japan, 18 April 1942

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --
Miscellaneous Operations and Actions, 1942 --

Doolittle Raid on Japan, 18 April 1942

The April 1942 air attack on Japan, launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet and led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, was the most daring operation yet undertaken by the United States in the young Pacific War. Though conceived as a diversion that would also boost American and allied morale, the raid generated strategic benefits that far outweighed its limited goals.

The raid had its roots in a chance observation that it was possible to launch Army twin-engined bombers from an aircraft carrier, making feasible an early air attack on Japan. Appraised of the idea in January 1942, U.S. Fleet commander Admiral Ernest J. King and Air Forces leader General Henry H. Arnold greeted it with enthusiasm. Arnold assigned the technically-astute Doolittle to organize and lead a suitable air group. The modern, but relatively well-tested B-25B "Mitchell" medium bomber was selected as the delivery vehicle and tests showed that it could fly off a carrier with a useful bomb load and enough fuel to hit Japan and continue on to airfields in China.

Gathering volunteer air crews for an unspecified, but admittedly dangerous mission, Doolittle embarked on a vigourous program of special training for his men and modifications to their planes. The new carrier Hornet was sent to the Pacific to undertake the Navy's part of the mission. So secret was the operation that her Commanding Officer, Captain Marc A. Mitscher, had no idea of his ship's upcoming employment until shortly before sixteen B-25s were loaded on her flight deck. On 2 April 1942 Hornet put to sea and headed west across the vast Pacific.

Joined in mid-ocean on 13 April by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey's flagship Enterprise, which would provide air cover during the approach, Hornet steamed toward a planned 18 April afternoon launching point some 400 miles from Japan. However, before dawn on 18 April, enemy picket boats were encountered much further east than expected. These were evaded or sunk, but got off radio warnings, forcing the planes to take off around 8 AM, while still more than 600 miles out.

Most of the sixteen B-25s, each with a five-man crew, attacked the Tokyo area, with a few hitting Nagoya. Damage to the intended military targets was modest, and none of the planes reached the Chinese airfields (though all but a few of their crewmen survived). However, the Japanese high command was deeply embarrassed. Three of the eight American airmen they had captured were executed. Spurred by Combined Fleet commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, they also resolved to eliminate the risk of any more such raids by the early destruction of America's aircraft carriers, a decision that led them to disaster at the Battle of Midway a month and a half later.

This page features a historical overview of the Doolittle Raid on Japan, images of USS Hornet launching Army bombers on the morning of 18 April 1942 and other combat views taken on that day.

For more pictures related to the Doolittle Raid, see:

  • People of the Doolittle Raid;
  • Ships of the Doolittle Raid Task Force; and
  • Raiding Force B-25s on board USS Hornet.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 97500

    Doolittle Raid on Japan, April 1942


    USS Nashville (CL-43) firing her 6"/47 main battery guns at a Japanese picket boat encountered by the raid task force, 18 April 1942.
    Photographed from USS Salt Lake City (CA-25).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 43KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-41197

    Doolittle Raid on Japan, April 1942


    USS Hornet (CV-8) launches Army Air Force B-25B bombers, at the start of the first U.S. air raid on the Japanese home islands, 18 April 1942.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-41196

    Doolittle Raid on Japan, April 1942


    An Army Air Force B-25B bomber takes off from USS Hornet (CV-8) at the start of the raid, 18 April 1942.
    Note men watching from the signal lamp platform at right.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-41194

    Doolittle Raid on Japan, April 1942


    An Army Air Forces B-25B bombers awaits the takeoff signal on the flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8), as the raid is launched, 18 April 1942.
    Note Flight Deck Officer holding launch flag at right, and white stripes painted on the flight deck to guide the pilot's alignment of his plane's nose and port side wheels.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 53420

    Doolittle Raid on Japan, 18 April 1942


    USAAF B-25B bomber lines up for takeoff from USS Hornet (CV-8), on the morning of 18 April 1942. Note white lines painted on the flight deck, below the plane's nose and port side wheels, to guide the pilot during his takeoff run.
    This is the 3rd or 4th plane to be launched.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53435

    Doolittle Raid on Japan, 18 April 1942


    USAAF B-25B bombers prepare to take off from USS Hornet (CV-8), on the morning of 18 April 1942. These are the last five or six planes to be launched.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53419

    Doolittle Raid on Japan, 18 April 1942


    A USAAF B-25B bomber flies over USS Hornet (CV-8) while on its way to attack targets in Japan, just after it was launched on the morning of 18 April 1942.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     

    For more pictures related to the Doolittle Raid, see:

  • People of the Doolittle Raid;
  • Ships of the Doolittle Raid Task Force; and
  • Raiding Force B-25s on board USS Hornet.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 11 March 2001
    Coding updated 6 May 2001