Doolittle's Raiders
Image Size: 28" x 14 1/2"
Overall Size: 34" x 21"
Image Size: 28" x 14 1/2"
Overall Size: 34" x 21"
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500 Public Edition (Limited Edition, Signed and Numbered) $150.00
___________________________________________________________
500 Public Edition (Limited Edition, Signed and Numbered) $150.00
___________________________________________________________
One of the most daring aviation exploits of the Second World War took place on the 18th of April
1942. Led by Lt. Colonel James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, sixteen Army B-25s took off from the crowded
deck of the U.S.S. Hornet and headed for their targets in Japan.
This guts-and-glory mission was the culmination of four months of planning, hard work and training
for the 90 volunteer crewmembers that would fly the extremely dangerous mission. It was designed
not just to strike at the heart of Japan, but to bolster the sagging morale of the United States in the
dark early months of World War II. It would also force Japan to reconsider its defense of the empire
and lead its military into its first strategic mistake, the decision to take Midway.
Assisted by Naval experts, principally Lt. Henry Miller, the "Army Crows," as they were called,
started practicing carrier deck take-offs in March 1942, with their medium bombers at Elgin Field in
Florida. They would need all the practice they could get. It would be the first time such large
bombers would be launched from a Navy carrier on a combat mission. By the end of the month, they
were ready and flew cross-country to hook up with the Navy task force waiting for them in Alameda,
California.
On April 1, the aircraft carried U.S.S. Hornet had been loaded with the bombers and set sail from its
berth to meet the rest of its task force in the Pacific. During the next tension-filled days its
proceeded to the desired launch site for the Army bombers, and for the next seventeen days, the
task force sailed deep into the Japanese controlled waters.
The bombers were to be launched late in the day on the 18th, close enough to Japan that they could
continue east and conduct emergency landings on makeshift airfields set up for them in China.
Unfortunately fate had other plans.
A Japanese picket vessel sighted the task force at 7:38 a.m. Although this ship was eventually sunk
by Navy gunfire, it was decided to quickly launch the Army Raiders and get the carrier task force out
of harm's way, even though they were well short of their desired launch point.
The B-25s had been "spotted" on the stern of the Hornet, to give them the longest possible distance
for the deck launch. Frantic last minute preparations were made including additions to armament,
topping off gasoline tanks and giving out extra fuel cans in hopes of making up for the additional
distance they would have to fly. Navigators reviewed their maps to make the necessary
adjustments in their flight plans, while pilots and co-pilots worried about their first actual carried
takeoff with fully loaded B-25s.
In Early Launch, Colonel Doolittle and his co-pilot, Lieutenant Richard E. Cole, who were to be the
first to take off, discuss last minute instructions with Lieutenant (U.S.N.) Edgar Osborne, who was to
be Launch Officer for the take-off. Other Army personnel scramble to their planes while Navy
deckhands man their assigned positions for launch.
All the aircraft were successfully launched off the pitching deck of the Hornet and, despite some
opposition in route, reached their targets. The Japanese cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka
and Kobe were completely surprised by the sting of U.S. air power. The entire empire of Japan was
shocked by the first of what was to become many U.S. bomber raids over its cities.
The B-25s continued southeast to China where, late at night, the crews bailed out of the aircraft that
were nearly out of gas. Two crews were captured by the Japanese and made to endure torture,
imprisonment and death at the hands of their captors. One crew was interned in Russia, but the
other crews, with heroic help from the Chinese, eventually found their way to Chungking. From their
they were flown out of China and back to the United States.
Many details of the raid had to be kept secret from the American people. Roosevelt even quipped
that the bombers had been launched from Shangri-La, the mythical kingdom in Last Horizons. But
news of the first bombing raid on Japan, even with minimal damage, was a tonic to all Americans,
who were just getting over the shock and humiliation of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl
Harbor and subsequent losses all over the Pacific. It was as it to signal the changing tide. To
paraphrase Winston Churchill, "It was not the Beginning of the End, but perhaps the End of the
Beginning.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
1942. Led by Lt. Colonel James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, sixteen Army B-25s took off from the crowded
deck of the U.S.S. Hornet and headed for their targets in Japan.
This guts-and-glory mission was the culmination of four months of planning, hard work and training
for the 90 volunteer crewmembers that would fly the extremely dangerous mission. It was designed
not just to strike at the heart of Japan, but to bolster the sagging morale of the United States in the
dark early months of World War II. It would also force Japan to reconsider its defense of the empire
and lead its military into its first strategic mistake, the decision to take Midway.
Assisted by Naval experts, principally Lt. Henry Miller, the "Army Crows," as they were called,
started practicing carrier deck take-offs in March 1942, with their medium bombers at Elgin Field in
Florida. They would need all the practice they could get. It would be the first time such large
bombers would be launched from a Navy carrier on a combat mission. By the end of the month, they
were ready and flew cross-country to hook up with the Navy task force waiting for them in Alameda,
California.
On April 1, the aircraft carried U.S.S. Hornet had been loaded with the bombers and set sail from its
berth to meet the rest of its task force in the Pacific. During the next tension-filled days its
proceeded to the desired launch site for the Army bombers, and for the next seventeen days, the
task force sailed deep into the Japanese controlled waters.
The bombers were to be launched late in the day on the 18th, close enough to Japan that they could
continue east and conduct emergency landings on makeshift airfields set up for them in China.
Unfortunately fate had other plans.
A Japanese picket vessel sighted the task force at 7:38 a.m. Although this ship was eventually sunk
by Navy gunfire, it was decided to quickly launch the Army Raiders and get the carrier task force out
of harm's way, even though they were well short of their desired launch point.
The B-25s had been "spotted" on the stern of the Hornet, to give them the longest possible distance
for the deck launch. Frantic last minute preparations were made including additions to armament,
topping off gasoline tanks and giving out extra fuel cans in hopes of making up for the additional
distance they would have to fly. Navigators reviewed their maps to make the necessary
adjustments in their flight plans, while pilots and co-pilots worried about their first actual carried
takeoff with fully loaded B-25s.
In Early Launch, Colonel Doolittle and his co-pilot, Lieutenant Richard E. Cole, who were to be the
first to take off, discuss last minute instructions with Lieutenant (U.S.N.) Edgar Osborne, who was to
be Launch Officer for the take-off. Other Army personnel scramble to their planes while Navy
deckhands man their assigned positions for launch.
All the aircraft were successfully launched off the pitching deck of the Hornet and, despite some
opposition in route, reached their targets. The Japanese cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka
and Kobe were completely surprised by the sting of U.S. air power. The entire empire of Japan was
shocked by the first of what was to become many U.S. bomber raids over its cities.
The B-25s continued southeast to China where, late at night, the crews bailed out of the aircraft that
were nearly out of gas. Two crews were captured by the Japanese and made to endure torture,
imprisonment and death at the hands of their captors. One crew was interned in Russia, but the
other crews, with heroic help from the Chinese, eventually found their way to Chungking. From their
they were flown out of China and back to the United States.
Many details of the raid had to be kept secret from the American people. Roosevelt even quipped
that the bombers had been launched from Shangri-La, the mythical kingdom in Last Horizons. But
news of the first bombing raid on Japan, even with minimal damage, was a tonic to all Americans,
who were just getting over the shock and humiliation of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl
Harbor and subsequent losses all over the Pacific. It was as it to signal the changing tide. To
paraphrase Winston Churchill, "It was not the Beginning of the End, but perhaps the End of the
Beginning.
Illustration by James Dietz - Copyright © 2005.
All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this website may be reproduced
or utilized in any form without the written consent of American Art & Antiques, Inc.
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
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"Early Launch"