The Doolittle Raid on Tokyo took place on 18 April 1942. 16 B25 Mitechl medium bombers took off from an aircraft carrier, the USS Hornet and proceeded to successfully complete the mission over Tokyo and then on to China where they ran out of fuel and parachuted into the night. This was a spectacular success in a very dangerous and risky mission. There were some casualties, and the material effect was negligeable, it was more a morale booster and showed that the USAF could reach Tokyo. Who was Doolittle? Before WW2 he taught himself really good navigation by flying a small plane in tough areas (I think Alaska) and repeatedly navigating without looking outside, only using map wrist watch and compass.

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