[blam]

"The early nuclear bombs were large, and could not be launched from a carrier based plane, or even the B-25 which was carrier based in 1942. (a one time deal, I think all of them were lost on that mission.)"

The B-25 was never carrier-based. There was one incident (with many modifications required) where a group of B-25's flew off the deck of the carrier Hornet. This is the famous 'Doolittle Raid'. It was a psyclological raid on Tokyo. Some of the planes flew (real low) over the imperial palace but, with orders not to cause damage to it. It was a one-way trip where the pilots were to ditch in friendly Chinese territory. Some made it, many didn't.

[Donald Meaker]

I agree, the B-25 was not carrier based. It was, that time, carrier launched, which is different. Good catch, and sorry about my loose expression.