Doolittle Raiders Historical Marker

This historical marker commemorates the aircrew who launched the first offensive against Japan in World War II. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made two important decisions, the first was declaring war on Japan, and the second was planning a retaliatory strike meant to bolster American morale until the Navy was prepared to take the offensive. Navy Captain Francis Low and Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, began planning a top-secret mission that would become known as the "Doolittle Raids." Knowing that he needed knowledgeable and experienced volunteers, Doolittle turned to the 17th Bombardment Group at Pendleton Field, Oregon where he found 80 volunteers for a one-way attack. By March 1, 1942, all volunteers had arrived at the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where they completed their month-long training before leaving for the coast of Japan on April 2. 16 days later, the 16 crews launched their mission 10 hours early after being spotted by a Japanese fisherman. By mid-day, the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Nagoya, and Osaka had all been bombed and the 16 aircraft crash-landed as planned. 15 of those made it to China and one landed in the Soviet Union. Of the 80 volunteers, 7 died in their effort to respond to Pearl Harbor in a manner that would raise the morale of the American people until the Armed Forces were prepared to take the war to Japan.

When World War II began in Europe in 1939, the United States, still reeling from the Great Depression, had declared neutrality even as it took steps that favored the Western Allies. After the U.S. reduced trade with Japan, leaders of that nation made the decision to attack. On December 7, 1941, at 7:55 in the morning, Japanese dive bombers attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 Americans, including 68 civilians, and destroyed or seriously damaged 19 vessels. As part of the response, FDR and military leaders planned a top-secret mission under the leadership of Navy Captain Francis Low and Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle.

The pair decided they needed an aircraft that had a 2,400-mile cruising range and a 2,000-pound bomb load. But upon planning what we now call the “Doolittle Raids,” Navy Captain Low and Lt. Col. Doolittle encountered two major setbacks. First, the United States did not have an aircraft that was capable of reaching Japan from the closest American air base, and the second was that the heart of the United States Pacific naval power lay at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. As a solution, the two officials decided that the best route to take would be to make alterations to the closest existing aircraft, the B-25B which, without modifications, only had a cruising range of 1,300 miles as well as only two machine guns in the top turret, two in the belly turret, and one in the bombardier’s nose. The next step was to find volunteers. Doolittle turned to the 17th Bombardment Group (BG) at Pendleton Field, Oregon. Despite not knowing any details of the mission, all of the men of the 17th volunteered and the leaders chose pilots from this group.

Between February 27th and March 1st, the 24 volunteers and the 60 enlisted support personnel, along with the partially modified B-25 aircraft, arrived at Eglin Field Air Force Base on the Florida Panhandle, and by March 6th training had commenced. Over the next three weeks, the 16 crews trained in simulated takeoffs, night and low-level flying, low-altitude bombing, and overwater navigation with the assistance of Navy Lieutenant Henry Miller, a flight instructor from the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. Although all the airmen had experience with B-25 aircraft, they had to learn how to take off from an aircraft carrier. With collapsible fuel tanks and additional fuel cells, removal of the belly turret and heavy equipment, installation of de/anti-icers, steel blast plates, and mock gun barrels. the aircraft were ready and on April 1, 1942, the men were boarded onto the USS Hornet and set sail for Japan from the San Francisco Bay.

During their trip, the USS Hornet met up with 12 other ships that would defend the carrier if needed. After 17 days, the two ships docked 750 miles east of Japan, 300 miles further than their planned launch point because they were spotted by a Japanese boat. Although that vessel was was sunk by the USS Nashville, all recognized that the Japanese vessel likely radio the position of the vulnerable American fleet. As a result, the decision was made to take off 10 hours early so that the fleet could return to safety.

Each of the aircraft reached their targets on on April 18th, the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Nagoya, and Osaka had all been bombed by the Doolittle Raiders. The attacks killed an estimated fifty people and injured another 400. The aircrew planned to fly to an airfield in China where they would refuel and continue their flight to Chongqing were anticipated a return flight by U.S. military personnel. However, none of the crews made it to the rendezvous spot as they quickly realized that their aircraft would not allow them to make it that far owing to their change in plans. As a result, 15 of the 16 crews crash-landed off the coast of China while one landed in the Soviet Union. Of the 80 men, 2 men drowned, 1 died after bailing out, 8 were captured by Japanese and imprisoned, of those 8, 3 were executed and 1 died in captivity. The crew that landed in the Soviet Union were interned for approximately a year before being released to the United States. With the help of the Chinese people and some American missionaries, the surviving crew members that landed in China were escorted to Chongqing where they received medical attention and were taken home by the United States.

As a result of their valiant efforts the brave eighty volunteers all received the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as additional decorations from the Chinese government, and all the raiders that were killed or wounded in action received the distinguished Purple Heart. Although there were American lives lost in action, the Doolittle Raid was able to achieve President FDR’s goal of raising American morale.

Kane, R. B. (2017). The Doolittle Raid--75 Years Later. Air & Space Power Journal, 31(1), 72–80.

Glines, C. V. (1991). The Doolittle Raid: America's daring first strike against Japan. Schiffer Military History. 

Glines, C. V. (2012). They Flew From Shangri-La. Aviation History, 22(5), 30–34.

Sims, J. A. (1983). The Doolittle Raid — A Survivor’s Diary. Aerospace Historian, 30(2), 92–100.