While the damage from the raid was minimal, the embarrassment that Tokyo and other cities were bombed caused the Japanese Navy (1) to pull its units back from the Indian Ocean and the Coral Sea (at least in part) and (2) target Midway to prevent a recurrence. The rest, as they say, is history.
“Where do we get men like this?” The answer is a free Republic that values life, law and property. Currently we have many warriors who have fought for the last 11 years and also deserve equal recognition. Taking nothing away from this generation..we have many heroes in our midst. This morning at church I met a young Marine who had lost both legs in this war..now fighting to establish a new life. We need to honor our heroes.
I am not sure the mission was a good idea tho the men who flew them were indeed heroes. When they were launched they had little hope of reaching a safe destination. I really think they should have gotten the 500 miles closer despite the fishing boat having gotten off a message.
The loss of 16 B-25s and a lot of their crews was worth a lot more than the damage they did.
It may have had morale value but who knows for sure? It might have even made the Japanese more adamant in fighting against us.
It had never been done before. There were calculations by some faceless engineer, who had calculated it could be done.
Barely. Maybe...
So, you're sitting there on deck, revving the engines to peak RPM, the deck is pitching up and down, you take your feet off the brakes...then what? When do you start hauling back on the yoke? Do you close your eyes? Do you pray?
Probably prevented an invasion of Hawaii.
I met one of them, his son was a classmate of mine.
Sounds like a simple innocuous sentence in a article.
However, by some estimates and now quoting from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid#cite_ref-3, it states
"Approximately 250,000 Chinese civilians were massacred by the Japanese Army in eastern China in retaliation for Chinese assistance of the attacking American aviators.[4]"
I believe that is as much part of the story as bravery of these fine men. Am sure they would never want that part of the story ever forgotten. And I hope we as Americans can honor and never forget what they (Chinese civilians) did for these men and the price they paid for their freedom.
Anyone who does not fully understand the importance of "face" to Samurai-descendent Japanese can't grasp how terribly devastating the Doolitte raid was to the Japanese military...
One of my favorote family possesioins is a map of the raid signed by several of the raiders including Doolittle with a note presenting it to my grandfather. The note ends with the line “Tokyo Bound April 1942.” Heroes, One and all.
Bended knee
Their time with us is fleeting
Probably better off considering how unworthy most of us are today
In the summer of 1943 my family lived in Alameda California.
I was about 6 or 7 years old.
my brother and I stood on the curb and watched a parade come
down Lincoln Avenue. Marching bands, Marines and Saliors
and a convertible with a hansome man sitting up in the back
throwing candy to us kids and smiling.
It was Jimmy Doolittle and I have never forgotten that day.
bttt