THE DOOLITTLE RAIDERS
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japan mainland during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The raid was planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle and came at a time when the Japanese were advancing steadily across the Pacific. 80 men took part in the raid, with five men each in sixteen planes. A full list of the Doolittle Raiders can be found here.
The sixteen U.S. Army Air Forces B-25B Mitchell medium bombers were launched from the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier USS Hornet deep in the Western Pacific Ocean. The plan called for them to bomb military targets in Japan, and to continue westward to land in China — landing a medium bomber on the Hornet was impossible. All of the aircraft involved in the bombing were lost and 11 crewmen were either killed or captured — three of the Raiders died within a day of the raid as a result of a crash landing and a parachute failure (or insufficient altitude for it to open) and eight were imprisoned by the Japanese, with three of the captured men executed by the Japanese Army in China. One of the B-25s landed in the Soviet Union at Vladivostok, where it was confiscated and its crew interned for more than a year.
Thirteen entire crews, and all but one crewman of a 14th, returned either to the United States or to American forces. After the Doolittle Raid, the Raiders continued on in the service of their country. Many of them continued flying combat missions over enemy territory and several were killed during the war on other missions. Their leader, Jimmy Doolittle, continued his brilliant career in the service of our country as the commander of the 12th Air Force and then the 8th Air Force which contributed a great deal to the Allied victory in Europe.
In honor of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, the citizens of Tucson, Arizona presented a set of 80 sterling goblets to the Raiders following WW II. In turn, they were presented to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs by General Doolittle on behalf of the surviving members of the Raiders for safekeeping and display between reunions.
The silver goblets are housed in a special glass-enclosed trophy case which is guarded by two Airmen. In addition to the goblets, the case contains a bottle of brandy to be used by the last two remaining Raiders at the last reunion to toast their departed comrades. Many of the goblets are already turned upside down for the men who were killed in the raid or who have since died.
At each reunion, the Raiders hold a brief ceremony to honor those who have passed away. This emotional remembrance often marks the passing of additional Raiders during the year since the last reunion.
Each goblet is inscribed twice with a Raider name - both right-side up & upside-down - so that the names are always readable.
This documentary is a tribute to those 80 true American heroes.
