Destination Tokyo Doolittle
Overview
| On April 18, 1942, just over four months since Japanese naval forces had bombed the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, sixteen crews led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle flew their B-25 Mitchell bombers off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) in the first strike against the Japanese home islands. The Doolittle Raiders attacked military and industrial targets in several Japanese cities and their surprise attack on the previously untouched home island of Japan is considered by many historians to be a primary cause of the Japanese decisions that let to the Battle of Midway (during which the Japanese lost four aircraft carriers). It was the United States' first major response on the Eastern Front. Doolittle continued his brilliant career as the commander of the 12th Air Force and then the 8th Air Force. This book retells their contribution to the Allied victory. |
