75 Years Ago Today - Doolittle Raiders

[cutiger83]

75 years ago today 16 B-25s took off from the USS Hornet. While there was not a lot of damage done on the raid, it was a real shot in the arm for morale on the home front.

 

On this anniversary, I also want to remember all of the people behind the scenes who also made this mission possible. From the sub off the coast of Tokyo sending updates to the Raiders, to the Rosie the Riveters who built the planes, to the Navy ships who escorted the Raiders to the site of their great raid. it definitely took a nation to make this mission possible.

 

[mikie]

Thanks for the great tribute. I am wearing (and wearing out) my old Doolittle Raiders T-shirt as I have done every April 18. The second carrier USS Hornet is a fantastic museum ship about 50 miles up the road from me in Alameda. It is docked at the same spot where the B-25s were loaded onto the original Hornet for the raid. I need to get back up there this summer.

Mikie

[cutiger83]

Mikie,

 

If you make the trip, please take pictures! I would love to see them. And I agree about the Raiders t-shirt. I have one from their 60th reunion.

 

...Kat

[Wharfmaster]

God bless Jimmy Doolittle and his Shell High Octane Aviation Gasoline.

 

 

Wharf

[doyler]

Nice tribute and thanks for remembering and reminding me of this epic event.

 

As a mission it was such a risk on so many levels.A new and untried concept and I think most people dont grasp the concept or difficulties involved.

 

I have read many stories of the Raid and accounts of pilots or crew and Im always amazed that any of them survived at all.It was a real "one way mission" and these men were full aware of the risks and dangers even ending up in China there was no guarantees for them.

 

Thanks for posting this Kat.

[Cololab]

Thanks indeed for the reminder about this heroic event.

 

A now departed family friend was stationed at NAS Alameda at the time that these aircraft arrived and were loaded onto the Hornet. At the time he presumed they were just being shuttled to some other location for offloading; not to be flown off the carrier. Later, of course, he and everyone else learned what had really taken place.

[bobgee]

Great American Heroes! When the USA needed Heroes. Only one still alive. LtCol Bob Cole @ 102. Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot and one great guy! Good post, Kat. Thanks....Bobgee