wwiibuff
Lieutenant Colonel
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2009
- Messages
- 7,557
In honor of all those lost on Dec. 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor Hawaii 75 years ago today.
Also in honor of the "Doolittle Raiders" who on April 18, 1942 struck a blow to the Japanese by bombing Tokyo in retaliation for the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers took off from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier (amazing in it's own right as they had to practice for weeks at Eglin/Pensacola FL to see if they could even get the twin engine bombers up in time to be able to take off from a carrier) to attack the Japanese mainland and it was a one way trip (only enough fuel to get to target and then China/couldn't return to carrier).
Although the destructive impact on Japanese military targets was not significant, it was a huge boost for morale in the USA and made the Japanese military aware that they were vulnerable. I had the great honor and privilege a few years ago to meet the co-pilot of Doolittle's plane on the raid Lt. Richard "Dick" Cole in San Antonio, TX at the Texas Toy Soldier Show. What amazing bravery these 80 men (16 aircraft/5 men per aircraft) had in carrying out this surprise attack. True American heroes!
WWII photo...
front row left to right, pilot James Doolittle on front left and co-pilot Richard "Dick" Cole on front right.
(U.S. Air Force photo)
Also in honor of the "Doolittle Raiders" who on April 18, 1942 struck a blow to the Japanese by bombing Tokyo in retaliation for the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers took off from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier (amazing in it's own right as they had to practice for weeks at Eglin/Pensacola FL to see if they could even get the twin engine bombers up in time to be able to take off from a carrier) to attack the Japanese mainland and it was a one way trip (only enough fuel to get to target and then China/couldn't return to carrier).
Although the destructive impact on Japanese military targets was not significant, it was a huge boost for morale in the USA and made the Japanese military aware that they were vulnerable. I had the great honor and privilege a few years ago to meet the co-pilot of Doolittle's plane on the raid Lt. Richard "Dick" Cole in San Antonio, TX at the Texas Toy Soldier Show. What amazing bravery these 80 men (16 aircraft/5 men per aircraft) had in carrying out this surprise attack. True American heroes!
WWII photo...
front row left to right, pilot James Doolittle on front left and co-pilot Richard "Dick" Cole on front right.
(U.S. Air Force photo)
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