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Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid that Avenged Pearl Harbor

Garrett Bell

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Published in Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle And The Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor

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On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed over 2,400 Americans and crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet. In the aftermath of the attack, the United States was eager for revenge.

Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor

by James M. Scott

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	508 pages
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One of the men who was tasked with leading the retaliation was Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle. Doolittle was a highly decorated pilot and a master of aerial strategy. He had been involved in the development of the Norden bombsight, a device that greatly improved the accuracy of bombing raids. Doolittle was also a close friend of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had personally selected him to lead the raid.

Doolittle's mission was to lead a group of sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers on a bombing raid against Tokyo, the capital of Japan. The raid was to be a daring and dangerous mission. The B-25s were not designed for long-range bombing missions, and the crews had to be specially trained. The raid also had to be carried out in secret, as the Japanese were not expecting an attack on their home soil.

On April 18, 1942, the sixteen B-25s took off from the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier that was stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The bombers flew for over 600 miles before reaching Tokyo. They then dropped their bombs on the city, causing widespread damage and killing hundreds of people.

The Doolittle Raid was a success. It was the first time that American bombers had attacked Japan, and it showed the Japanese that they were not invincible. The raid also boosted morale in the United States and helped to turn the tide of the war in the Pacific.

Jimmy Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership of the raid. He went on to serve with distinction in the Army Air Forces for the rest of the war. After the war, Doolittle retired from the military and became a successful businessman.

The Doolittle Raid is a story of courage, heroism, and determination. It is a story that should be remembered and celebrated by all Americans.