("What if" in History - No. 5) April 15, 1942: NEW YORK TIMES breaks planned Tokyo bombing raid

DFU "what if" in history | April 15, 1942 | Jonathon Risen (fictitious name)

[doug from upland]

1 - Navajo Code Talkers
2 - Manhattan Project
3 - Operation Overloard
4- Plot To Assassinate Hitler

===========================================================================

Jonathon Risen, New York Times
April 15, 1942

The NEW YORK TIMES has learned exclusively that U.S. forces in the Pacific plan a daring bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan on April 18. Our sources have revealed that Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle will be the leader of the raid. It will be the most daring operation yet in the young Pacific war.

The attack will be launched from the aircraft carrier HORNET. Although it's strategic goals are somewhat limited, it is hoped that the raid will give a much needed morale boost to U.S. and Allied forces.

It has been learned that is is possible to launch Army twin-engined bombers from an aircraft carrier, making feasible an early air attack on Japan. When told of the feasibility of the idea in January, U.S. Fleet commander Admiral Ernest J. King and Air Forces leader General Henry H. Arnold greeted it with enthusiasm.

Arnold assigned the technically-astute Doolittle to organize and lead a suitable air group. The modern and relatively well-tested B-25B "Mitchell" medium bomber has been selected as the delivery vehicle. Tests have shown that if can fly off a carrier with a useful bomb load and have enough fuel to hit Japan and make it safely to airfields in China.

Doolittle embarked on a vigorous program of special training for his men and modifications of their planes for the dangerous mission. The operation is so secret that the HORNET's Commanding Officer, Captain Marc A. Mitscher had no idea of the ship's uncoming employment until shortly before sixteen B-25s were loaded on her flight deck. On April 2, the HORNET put out to sea and headed west across the Pacific.

Vice Admiral William F. Halsey's flagship ENTERPRISE, which will provide air cover during the approach, joined the HORNET in mid-ocean on April 13. The launching point is planned for 400 miles off the coast of Japan unless they encounter resistance and have to launch from further out.

Most of the sixteen B-25Bs will have a five-man crew. Although most will attack Tokyo, a few are scheduled to hit Nagoya. It is hoped that enough damage will be done to deeply embarrass the Japanese high command.

We at the TIMES wish the pilots and crew well. Really.

We will have a complete report after the raid is completed. Count on the NEW YORK TIMES for all your war coverage. If it's news, we will have it first.

[doug from upland]

I guess you are the only one on the ping list, so here is a ping.

[DieHard the Hunter]

Too close to the truth to be funny, mate. But a tidy satire all the same. Goodonya for posting it!

[doug from upland]

Ping

[doug from upland]

HERE IS THE REST OF THE STORY ---

Joined in mid-ocean on 13 April by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey's flagship Enterprise, which would provide air cover during the approach, Hornet steamed toward a planned 18 April afternoon launching point some 400 miles from Japan. However, before dawn on 18 April, enemy picket boats were encountered much further east than expected. These were evaded or sunk, but got off radio warnings, forcing the planes to take off around 8 AM, while still more than 600 miles out.

Most of the sixteen B-25s, each with a five-man crew, attacked the Tokyo area, with a few hitting Nagoya. Damage to the intended military targets was modest, and none of the planes reached the Chinese airfields (though all but a few of their crewmen survived). However, the Japanese high command was deeply embarrassed. Three of the eight American airmen they had captured were executed. Spurred by Combined Fleet commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, they also resolved to eliminate the risk of any more such raids by the early destruction of America's aircraft carriers, a decision that led them to disaster at the Battle of Midway a month and a half later.

[doug from upland]

I just read your FReeper page. Glad to have you here.

[centexan]

God Bless Robert Gray from Killeen, Texas, who was killed in that raid. The army airfield at Fort Hood is named in his honor. The NY Times is not worth using for packing paper.

[ScaniaBoy]

Another good one!

Have you thought of sending these 5 threads to the NYT op-ed page or letters-to-the-eds page? Of course it will be shredded, but at least someone on the paper is going to have to increase his/her blood pressure medication.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

"Imagine, there's no country..."

The Left would love it so...

Until they realize...

That they'll be starving, Oh...

Becuase they've killed the producers...

In their arrogant ignorance, Oh....

Imagine all the Lefties, scavaging for food...

Oh, Oh, OOO Oh...

(refer to my tag line)

[doug from upland]

Thanks. If any of you want to send, email, or fax, have at it. If you send them to you email list, perhaps they will find their way to the TIMES.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> I just read your FReeper page. Glad to have you here.

Thanks, mate! Glad to be here. I just read all your installations: if you have a ping list and feel so inclined, I'd enjoy reading any future instalments...

You write well.

[rlmorel]

I second the sentiments of Doug From Upland! Thanks for your support!

[ScaniaBoy]

I'll have a go. If I meet with any success I'll be sure to let you know.

[U S Army EOD]

Well, I will tell you what these people really did do. I ran the command post for US Army EOD support to the USSS during UN 20 and 21. This was in 1970 and 1971. If you folks were around then, that is when the SDS, Black Panthers, Weather Underground, VVAW, etc, were the most active in planting IED's all over America.

That newspaper printed on the front page on how to make a very sophisticated IED designed to kill responders. They don't change much.

[John Valentine]

If we really HAD 16 B-52s back in 1942, what era B-52 would they have been?

Would we also have had terrain following cruise missiles on board?

If so, they could have definitely affected the course of the war.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

"Three of the eight American airmen they had captured were executed."

I'm sure the liberal media of the day would put this news on page 16, while front page news would be about rumors of abuse of japanese prisoners by the US military.

[conservative in nyc]

New York Times buzzwords for upcoming articles on intelligence "bombshells":

-Source(s)="government official(s) with knowledge of the project".
This is misleading enough for most readers to think the sources are from executive branch agencies, like the CIA, but often really refers to Senators and/or their staffers. Sometimes referred to as "senior government officials" to really throw off the scent.

-"on condition of anonymity"=this is really part of a smear campaign by the President's opponents.

-"not previously known"=the Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Reagan and Carter administrations authorized the same thing. But we didn't bother telling you that. And we never will.

-Always bury the truth in the last few paragraphs.

[Karliner]

I wish Dolittle was still alive and would launch a raid on Iran in a marked Syrian fighter...or maybe a Chinese...Hmmmmm

[T.L.Sink]

Actually the TIMES did spin the news during WW II. "Commentary" did a book review in which the author documented the fact that the paper suppressed what was becoming known of the holocaust - this despite the fact that Arthur Sulzberger was himself Jewish. If anyone would like more detail, please advise.

[starbase]

Please add me to your ping list too. Thanks.