Evening star., 1943-04-21

WLSHL LuSL HIyfLL Ot kftc hbtc' tSuH
raid on Japan tollotDs.'
Additional details regarding the
raid (on Japan, April 1S, 1912, now
may be disclosed.
The U. S. S. Hornet was the
"Shangri-La" from which the Amer
lean planes took off to bomb mill
tary objectives in Toxic and four
other japanese cities. This aircraft
carrier, which carried the flyers
of the Army Air Forces to within
300 miles of Toxic on their mission,
subsequently, was announced as lost
in the battle of Santa Cruz on Oc-
tober 26, 1912.
The objective of the 16 North
American B-25 medium bombers was
to attack definite selected points
armament plants, dock yards, rail-
road yards and oil refineries-ln To-
kio. Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe and
Osake.
This objective was carried out with
accuracy and complete success. At
the same time, the raid resulted in
freezing, within Japan, NlppOneSe
airplanes and other forces which
might have been used in offensive
operations elsewhere.
Unable to Reach Fields.
The American planes were to
have sought landing fields in China.
Because of a combination of cir
cumstances, the planes were unable
to reach their assigned landing
fields. One came down in Soviet
Russian territory. The others made
forced or crash landings in China
some in Japanese occupied terri
tory-or in water off the Chinese
coast. All these planes were
wrecked.
Five of the 80 American partici-
pants in the historic raid are in
termed in Russia Eight are prison.
ers, or are presumed to be prison.
ers of the japanese government.
Two are missing. One was Killed.
Although several were long delayed,
the other 81 participants made
their way to the camps OF our
Chinese allies and then back to
American authority. Seven of those
who escaped in this manner were
injured but survived.
The preparation for the raid on
Japan. first conceived in January,
1912, was carried out in the ut
most secrecy with thoroughneSs ex-
tending to the most minute details.
Mai. Gen. James H. Doolittle, who
was then a lieutenant colonel and
a celebrated flier, combining the
regulations of a daredevil and a
most proficient painstaking tech
nician. chose the men to accom-
pany him on the venture. All were
volunteers who first knew only that
they were going on mission whose
Importance Was equalled only by
the hazards involved.
Final Training in Florida.
About three months were spent
In preparations. Gen. Doolittle and
his men finished their training at
Eglin Field, Fla. 1t was the first
time the medium bombers of the
Army were to take off in numbers
from an aircraft carrier of the
Navy. Special experience was re-
quired
Using white lines on the field to
measure, the fliers concentrated on
taking off in the shortest possible
distance. Patiently the members Of
each airplane crew poured over
maps, and by pictures and sill
houettes learned to recognize in
stantly the features of the course
they were to travel over Japan and
the particular objectiveS they were
to bomb.
The Norden bombsight was re-
placed with simple 20-cent sight
devised by Capt now Major C. R.
Greening in order to preserve the
secret of the Norden sight should
any aircraft be forced down in
Japan.
Each plane was given the particu-
lar factory or shipyard, or arsenal,
or oil works which it was to de-
stroy-all military targets. At the
outset of the training period it was
decided that the planes should come
in over Japan flying extremely low
to escape observation and anti-air-
craft fire and to make even more
sure Of the accuracy of their bomb
ing.
In practice for the great venture
ahead, the planes in training swept
in over the American coast and
famed out as they would have to
do over Japan to attack their mill
tary objectives in or near the five
cities which were involved. Exactly
similar geographical distances were
Travelled over American territory to-
ward objectiVeS resembling the goals
in Japan.
HalSey Commanded Task Force.
At rendezvous port the tiiers and
their planes were loaded on the Air
craft Carrier Hornet to start the
voyage which was to take them
within range Of Toxic. The COM
mander of the task force was Ad-
miral William F. Halsey, jr., who
had already achieved fame as
Skillful and bold leader of naval
raids upon japanese bases in the
Pacific Admiral Halsey is now COM
mander of all American naval and
Army forces in the South Pacific
area.
Aboard the Hornet, training was
continued There were lectures on
Japan and talks on navigation,
gunnery and meteorology. The gum
ners practiced with shots at kites
which were flown above the aircraft
carrier.
The original plan was to proceed
through hazardous waters to point
within 400 miles of Toxic. There
the planes were to be launched and
their fate left to the hands of their
crews and to Providence, while the
naval task force made its own pre-
carious escape.
1t had been planned to take off
just before dark, to make the at
tack on Japan at night and to ar
rive at Chinese airfields in the early
morning. But when the aircraft
carrier was still 800 miles from
Toxic, it met complications. Having
avoided one enemy patrol vessel and
while trying to steer clear of an
other, it ran into a third Japanese
ship. This ship was sunk, but it