To bolster sagging American morale and deal a blow to Japanese confidence.
The raid was planned and led by . Because standard Navy bombers could not reach Japan from carriers without being intercepted, the plan utilized 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers . Tokyo Raiders
The Doolittle Raid, launched on April 18, 1942, was a pivotal moment in World War II. It was the first American air operation to strike the Japanese capital of Tokyo and other locations on the island of Honshu. To bolster sagging American morale and deal a
To force the Japanese to divert military resources from the front lines back to the defense of their home islands. The Mission: Planning and Execution The Doolittle Raid, launched on April 18, 1942,
Following the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, American morale was at its lowest point. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought a way to strike back at the heart of the Japanese Empire to prove it was not invulnerable. The mission had two primary goals: