Wars for Peace
WW2 in the Pacific #2 On the morning of April 18, 1942, 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-12). The crew members felt angry, admiration, and just plain confused when their commander told them to practice taking off from 500 feet. Then they were astounded to hear that their commander was now going to be Lt. James “Jimmy” Doolittle. After days of hard work the pilots were ready for whatever it was to come. The 80 crew members of 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers were startled to see the installation of extra fuel tanks and the removal of the radio from their planes. When they asked the ground crew why, they said they didn’t know why the commander tasked them with this. The crew was even more surprised to see planes loaded on the aircraft carrier Uss Hornet. The B25 was designed to lift off from around 5,000 feet. But the Hornet’s deck was just 500 feet, measly for the B25. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After a few days on board, the orders were given early to take off. This was weird because they still had 250 miles until the usual launch zone. They were given no explanation. Each pilot was nervous that they wouldn't make the 500 feet, that even with all the meticulous planning the plan will fail. Miraculously all the planes got off the deck. Now comes the 650 miles to Japan. Many Japanese were sure that mainland Japan was safe from attack, Hirohito, the emperor, told them this. They believed him. So when they were bombed, this made them question Hirohito and wonder if he was a good emperor. Tokyo was little defended, so it was easy to get through. Though damage was minimal, it boosted American morale by 1000%. One B25 was consuming it´s fuel faster than expected so even though the raiders were specifically told not to, the B25 turned north towards Russia. It ended up about 40 miles north of Vladivostok. They were taken prisoner by the Soviets and their plane was confiscated and used as a troop transporter on the eastern front. All the other planes either crashed in China or ditched in the ocean. The Chinese hid the survivors but all were eventually caught. All but one of the raiders returned home. He died when his plane ditched.
1 Comment
wyatt
3/17/2020 11:56:13 am
I really enjoyed your article. I like reading about WW2 also. Right now I am reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Have you read it?
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