The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-28
-ofacial .. s, Navy Photo, from NEA.


he bombers moving along che flight
was what you might call . we'll
ordered excitement, but no con.
fusion. You'd pass somebody and
pat him on the back. shake hands
quickly.
I hurried TO my ship and found
that the plugs hadn't been put IN
vet, hut the engineer and his
buddy now had Ave other extra
crew members helping them. It
was q question Of either getting
the ship ready on time or rolling
Il oversize so that the ship be-
hind 1t could get on the runway.
We were 800 miles from Tokyo
when the task force sighted and
sank the enemy ship. instead OF
the 400 miles we had planned on.
Col. noolittle had figured the gas
oline TO the last pint and had con-
cluded that 900 miles was the
absolute maximum distance from
which We could bomb Tokyo and
then reach unoccupled China.
We talked the situation over
quickly and there was no question
In anyhotly,s mind as TO what we
should do, even though none OF
us ever expected TO get TO China,
Col. Doolittle took OF about
a:20 q. m. We had made some
noise when we learned definitely
that we were headed for Tokyo
But the yells then were nothing
like the roar that went up wher
he got his ship down the runway
and safely into the cir. You coulc
hear that cheer above the din o.
all the motors warming up.
My ship was the ninth 70 go
They were still' working furiouslS
on the engine. and gave 1t the
final touches Just as the PLANE
ahead Of ours TAXED into takeod
position.
TOUGH TAKEOFF
I probably should have thought
Of something memorable or dra'
matte while I waited for the sig.
nal that would start US for Tokyo
But I only had one thought ir
mind: had to release the two
brakes absolutely evenly.
with tricycle. landing gear it'l
easy to angle on II you dom
release your brakes exactly to.
gether. You can't afford not K
In getting a B-25 of a carrier
Ny right wing cleared the ships
island" superstructure by foul
feet, while the left wing hung TIVE
or three feet out over the water.
None Of us had ever taken OF
from u carrier before. but we hae
been given the routine instruc'
ton. The waves were running
about 40 feet high, although 1t wa
beautiful, clear morning, ant
the deck officer started me dowT
as the ship went into the trough
of q wave. We reached the enc
of the runway as the ship reached
the crest, circled the carrier oncl
for compass check, and startet
of.
We had worked and planned
every part Of this trip so lonl
that, once we we're started, I
seemed almost routine. The en-.
gineer checked the rear gun ant
the navigator constantly checked
the sun as we cruised along at so
feet.
DODGED WAVES
Soon we saw . large surfacl
ship and ! went straight down b
the water and stayed there al
the rest Of the way In. It wa
firing, nerve-wearing flying, try
ing to dodge the crests Of the BIZ
waves, and keeping q lookout fol
enemy ships.
we approached Tokyo from tn
east. As the outline Of the ISLAM
came in sight we climbed allow
q light ground haze for q bette
look.
More and more surface Graf
appeared, and people waved at u
from sampans and smaller boats
We didn't wave back. With on
tremendous load Of bombs ans
gasoline, our speed was quite slow
We were an excellent target. ant
we were very much on edge.
Outside Tokyo we passed over al
airlield where twin-engine bomber
we're lined up and pursuit planel
were warming up on the runways
Bissel, our hoznbardier. wanted q
drop an egg on them. but we has
strict orders 10 stick to our specifie'
| targets.
shortly aftefward we saw
formation Of fiye planes an
thought we were In for 1t. But the.
| turned out to be training ships.
About 20 miles east Of Tokyo b.
| the "A batteries started firing q
us. The max was very heavy. bu
very inaccurate. They seemed elos
| in getting the range. droppe
to 1000 feet and deviated the cours
| up and down, and to right and lefl
by then / could see orr target
q tank factory, very clearly. tn
gunner was whooping and holIer
ing and larker. the c0-pilol
would let out 3 war whoop and
volley Of Texas cuss words ever
time the FAX got close. ! didn'
have time 70 hoiieT. had "a
hands fun of alFplane.
a.. a.