![]() New frontiers of science were opening, along with new and frightening moral questions. World War II would end, and the Cold War soon begin. 6, 1945, and Nagasaki three days later-was that rare historical moment that requires little hindsight to gain its significance. The decision by the United States to drop the world’s first atomic weapons on two Japanese cities-Hiroshima first, on Aug. When the nuclear age began, there was no mistaking it. Photographs by HARUKA SAKAGUCHI | Introduction By LILY ROTHMAN James H.Survivors of the Atomic Blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki share their stories Find Out Moreĭoolittle Raiders Congressional Gold Medal (00:05:24)ī25 Flight with Congressional Gold Medal (00:06:52)ĭoolittle Raiders Final Toast Ceremony (00:01:23)ĭoolittle Raiders 70th Anniversary and Reunion (00:03:44) Mitscher, left for the secret mission in broad daylight.Ĭlick on the following links to learn more about the Doolittle Raid.Īmerica Hits Back: The Doolittle Tokyo RaidersĪ Raider's Toast: The Doolittle Raiders' Gobletsĭoolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold MedalĬlick here to return to the World War II Gallery. On April 2, 1942, not wanting to sail at night because of an inexperienced crew, the Hornet's captain, Marc A. In March it sailed to Alameda Naval Air Station near San Francisco to load the Army Air Forces aircraft, 72 officers and 64 enlisted men. The newly-built aircraft carrier USS Hornet was chosen to carry Doolittle's B-25s toward Japan. Using materials costing 20 cents, the metal working shops at Eglin Field manufactured the bombsights. This bombsight was connected to the cockpit through the pilot direction indicator, allowing the bombardier to give the pilot aircraft turn directions without relying on voice communication. Ross Greening, pilot and armament officer for Doolittle's group designed a replacement bombsight (seen in the nose of the aircraft). Instead of the Norden bombsight, which was ineffective at low altitudes, Capt. They completed their training in mid-March and later flew to San Francisco to board the carrier. The crews also practiced cross-country and night flying, navigating without radio references or landmarks, low-level bombing and aerial gunnery. Miller, a Navy pilot from Pensacola Naval Station, provided assistance on how to take off within 300 feet, the available distance on the carrier USS Hornet. The crews selected for the mission received their training at Eglin Field, Fla. It was flown to the museum in April 1958. The airplane on display at the museum is a B-25D rebuilt by North American to the configuration of a B-25B used on the Tokyo Raid. The B-25Bs and 24 trained volunteer crews came from the 17th Bombardment Group, Pendleton Field, Ore. Army Air Forces chose the B-25 for the Doolittle Raid because it was the only aircraft available with the required range, bomb capacity and short takeoff distance. Although the B-25 was originally intended for level bombing from medium altitudes, Pacific Theater aircrews often used it at low level to attack Japanese airfields and strafe and skip bomb enemy shipping. ![]() It saw duty in every combat area, being flown by the Dutch, British, Chinese, Russians and Australians in addition to U.S. The B-25 medium bomber was one of America's most famous airplanes of World War II, and more than 9,800 were built. Although the Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942, caused only minor damage, it forced the Japanese to recall combat forces for home defense, raised fears among the Japanese civilians, and boosted morale among Americans and our Allies abroad. Doolittle left the Army Air Corps in 1930, but when war appeared imminent, in 1940 he returned to active duty. He made the first blind flight in 1929 during which he took off, flew and landed while being completely dependent upon aircraft instruments. In the late 1920s and the early 1930s, he won the prestigious Schneider, Bendix and Thompson aviation trophies. Doolittle, who enlisted in the Army in 1917, became a flying cadet and received his commission in 1918. ![]() James Doolittle to lead Special Aviation Project No. ![]()
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