The leading bomber, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle, had but a few hundred feet of deck run to reach flying speed, but every subsequent one had a little more. This page features pictures of Army B-25 bombers on board USS Hornet , prior to their 18 April 1942 takeoff to attack Japan. Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Note use of the flight deck tie-down strips to secure the aircraft.
Location is near the forward edge of the midships aircraft elevator.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Note protective cover over its gun turret, and wooden dummy guns mounted in its tail cone. The plane at left is warming up its engines, as was done periodically during the voyage. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Several of the mission's sixteen B-25B bombers are visible.