The Doolittle Raid At 80 – Flying Into Greatness

The Doolittle Raid: America Fights Back

After the deadly surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the USA wanted. Pres. Roosevelt knew that it would inevitably be a long war when we took on the forces of the Japanese Army and Navy. Our forces were insufficient before the devastating attack on Hawaii.  nonetheless, FDR wanted to send a strong, clear, and unmistakable message to the Japanese: the United States WOULD fight back.

 An Unexpected Plan

Col. Jimmy Doolittle volunteered to lead a group of raiders on one of the most audacious attacks of all time. The plan was to drop bombs on Tokyo in the middle of the daytime. The Japanese people have been told that their island was invulnerable to an outside attack. If the Doolittle Raiders were successful, their attack would be a shattering blow to the Japanese psyche. The only problem was that there was no practical way for American planes to attack the Japanese mainland. But utilizing American ingenuity, full support of Pres. Roosevelt and Gen. George C Marshall, and with sheer bravado, the Doolittle Raiders flew into greatness. Despite the myth that the Doolittle Raid was just a “psychological victory,” the truth is that the raid changed the direction of the war!

The heart-stopping story of the Doolittle raid offered by a master storyteller makes for an unforgettable presentation!