Three Myths About The Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid is one of the most famous events of World War II.
It is also, on some levels, the most misunderstood
The basics are correct. Col. Jimmy Doolittle led an elite team of 80 men on one of the most dangerous missions of the Second World War. They took medium-range bombers off of the deck of an aircraft carrier,
a feat that had never before been done. In revenge for the sneak attack on Peal Harbor, the Doolittle Raiders flew low over the ocean on their way to bomb Japan. The Japanese people, who had been assured by their Emperor that they were invulnerable to foreign attack, reacted in shock and horror at the terrifying daytime attack. The Doolittle Raiders then attempted to fly to China, unable to return to the ship or to American soil. Some of the Raiders survived, some were killed on impact when their planes crashed, some were captured and killed. Click here to read an exclusive account of one of the Raiders who was killed.
All of that is true.
However, the conventional wisdom of the Doolittle Raid is that it was designed by Doolittle, was merely a psychological victory for the USA that did little material damage to the Japanese, and was simply a heroic and interesting footnote to the huge war in the Pacific.
That is not true!
When we look deeper at the Doolittle Raid, we realize it was far more effective, more heroic and more important than conventional wisdom suggests. Let’s look at three myths about the Doolittle Raid.
Myth # 1: The Initial Plan For The Doolittle Raid Was The Brainstorm Of Jimmy Doolittle
Jimmy Doolittle was one of the most honorable, heroic and brilliant men ever to serve in the USA Army. His life before, during and after World War II is filled with dazzling achievement, personal courage, 
patriotic service and an inspiring combination of humility and integrity. He was one of the greatest pilots in the world, winning race after race, medal after medal, setting record after record. He was the first American to hold a PhD in aeronautical engineering. Doolittle was a superb teacher and leader. However, the initial plan for what would be the Doolittle Raid did not originate with him. It was the brainchild of Navy Capt Francis Low. He was a brilliant submariner with a history of bold creativity. He took the idea to Admiral Ernest King. Seeing the great possibility, he refined it with Captain Donald B. âWuâ Duncan, his aviation expert. They took the plan to Army Air Force Chief Of Staff “Hap” Arnold.
When they were convinced the plan was feasible, they turned to Doolittle. He was the only man with the experience, skill, and organizational skills necessary to lead the raid. Typical of Doolittle’s humility, he always gave credit to all the men who designed the raid and, of course, to the brave men who carried it out.
Myth #Two: The Raid Was A Psychological Victory That Did Little Material Damage
While the Doolittle Raid did not inflict the massive damage of the huge attacks against Germany, it is wrong to assume it did little material damage. A more accurate assessment would be that the Doolittle Raid did tremendous damage relative to the amount of ordinance the stripped-down places carried. Every one of the sixteen planes reached either their primary or secondary targets and each dropped all of their bombs. Among the targets that were badly damaged:
| Targets | Hit: | |
| 1. | Plane | 2344 – Armory Area |
| 2. | “ | 2292 – Army Arsenal |
| 3. | “ | 2270 – Steel, Gas, Chemical Works |
| 4. | “ | 2283 – Oil Tank, Large Factory |
| 5. | “ | 2261 – Factories, Residential Area |
| 6. | “ | 2303 – Tokyo Gas & Electric Company |
| 7. | “ | 2250 – Steel Works, Residential Area |
| 8. | “ | 2249 – “Sakura” Refinery & Tanks |
| 9. | “ | 2278 – Ogura Refinery, Factories |
| 10. | “ | 2247 – Dock Yard, Ship, Crane |
(Note: Chart taken from this superb site)
By knocking out major oil refineries, cutting power to large sections of Tokyo and badly damaging important factories creating war material, the Doolittle Raid caused interruptions to the Japanese economy. Significantly, the bombs dropped by Lt. McElroy’s crew
Crew No. 13 (Plane #40-2247, target Yokosuka): 37th Bombardment Squadron, front row: Lt. Edgar E. McElroy, pilot; and Lt. Richard A. Knobloch, copilot; back row: Lt. Clayton J. Campbell, navigator; Master Sgt. Robert C. Bourgeois, bombardier; and Sgt. Adam R. Williams, flight engineer/gunner. Image: Pacific Air Forces.
hit an almost-completed Japanese ship, knocking it out of action until repairs could be made half a year later. The Japanese Navy dearly needed that ship and every ship they could throw into the fray as the huge battles of the Pacific (especially the Battle Of Midway, loomed on the horizon.
Myth # 3 – The Doolittle Raid Was A Minor Battle
The Japanese people were panicked by the raid. More important, the Japanese military completely misread the nature of the raid.They did not believe the bombers could have taken off from a ship. They committed a huge number of men to searching for a nonexistent USA base in China from which they assumed the raid began. While slaughtering 250,000 Chinese, the Japanese foolishly tore up airfields that they could have used! Most significantly, they presumed Japan was under direct threat of invasion or air attack. They made two key miscalculations as a result. First, they withdrew key ships and troops, relieving pressure on the British Navy in the South Pacific. Japanâs main aircraft carrier task force, led by five large, fast carriersâwith its best naval aircraft and aircrewsâunder command of Admiral Nagumo, was recalled to Japan. Second, believing Midway Island was the source of the raid, Admiral Yamamoto made the key decision to move ahead quickly with an attack on Midway. The disastrous defeat of the Japanese at Midway changed the course of the war. From then on the Japanese were on the defensive and the Allied forces slowly pushed them back into defeat.
The Doolittle Raid, then, can be seen as a turning point in the Second World War!
What were some outcomes of the interruption of the Japanese economy?
Maddie,
As you can imagine, when a power plant is blown up and electric lines are knocked down, it takes time and people and replacement parts to repair them. The loss of the ship for six months was important!
How did the Japanese respond to this attack?
Molly,
They brutally murdered 250,000 Chinese citizens that they thought had helped us. Those poor people were slaughtered. Isn’t it amazing that so many Chinese people, knowing the danger, still helped the Raiders! They were brave!
why did people think that the Doolittle raid didn’t really effect the Japanese
Nathan,
All of the planes used were lost and only two pictures remained of the damage they had done. The bombs all did damage, but did not do the destruction that would have occurred if we had been able to use super large planes with lots of bombs.
What warship/carrier did they use?
Kyle,
The Raiders took off from the USS Hornet – a famous ship!
why did japan belive the bombers couldn’t have come from a ship
Calvin,
Because it had never been done before! The underestimated the Americans’ creativity!
How many of the raiders returned safely?, how many died?, and how many were captured?
Camden,
72 of the Raiders made it home alive. Many of them continued to serve in the Army on bombing runs in Asia, Africa or Italy! 8 died as a result of the raid: 3 Killed In Action: 2 off the coast of China, 1 in China; 8 POW: 3 executed, 1 died in captivity. The other 4 POW eventually returned.
Are any men from the Doolittle raid still alive today?
As of this date, retired Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, 100, of Comfort, Texas (born September 7, 1915, in Dayton, Ohio) and retired Staff Sgt. David Thatcher, 93, of Missoula, Mont. (Born July 31, 1921 in Bridger, Montana).
Bonnie,
Thank you very much!
Barry
What made Japan think that the medium plane couldn’t take off on a boat, also why did they blow up the airfields? If they were there then it couldn’t have been are airfield.
Mason,
In order to get the proper speed and thrust, a B25B bomber like those used in the Doolittle raid would normally need about 1400 feet of runway. The deck of an aircraft carrier was only about 500 feet. If they couldn’t get the takeoff correct, the planes would’ve gone down into the ocean! Each of the pilots had to learn and practice in extremely difficult take off that had never really been tried before. The Japanese discs droit airfields in China because they thought that’s where the planes took off from. They were completely fooled!
John,
As of this morning â February 23, 2015, â only four of the men are still alive. You can read about them here: http://www.doolittleraider.com/survivors.htm
What does the chart mean. (The word plane and the “).
Michael,
The number after the plane indicates the planes designation. Every plane had a different number so that air traffic controllers and crews would know which plane was which.
Why did Japan think that the Doolittle raid was a minor battle? Did it really start WWII
Anna,
The Doolittle raid did not start World War II. The war had been going on in Europe since September 1939. The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 brought the US into the war. The Japanese government was humiliated that an American attack could hit their supposedly invulnerable homeland. To try and comfort their people, they marketed as the “Do Nothing Raid” and lied by saying that they had shut down several of the planes.
Was this plan of attack the best possible idea for the US to defeat Japan? Were there any other plans that could of worked?
Ian,
The Doolittle raid was never designed to defeat Japan. The raid was designed to scare the Japanese and to pay them back in some measure for what they had done at Pearl Harbor. At the time of the Doolittle raid, the United States was not capable of attacking Japan in any larger way.
Was Doolittle captured by the Japanese?
Doolittle was saved and protected by Chinese civilians. As you can see on the other essay on my website about the raid, some of his men were not so fortunate. Those captured by the Japanese were tortured and in some cases killed. Doolittle survived without being captured as did many of his men.
Which of these three myths do you think is real and which is the most unknown to common people?
Lauren,
The most repeated myth is that the Doolittle raid was very minor. It actually had a huge effect on Japanese war strategy and helped turn the tide of battle toward an American victory in the Pacific.
How many bombs could the US Armyâs planes carry during WW2?
Doolittle’s planes had to be stripped of almost anything that added weight. The reason for that is that a traditional bomber was too heavy to take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier and they would need so much fuel in order to bomb Japan and then get to China. Even the guns were taken out of the planes and replaced with broomsticks painted black! Doolittle’s planes each held only four bombs. Each of the four bombs weighed about 500 pounds. The land-based bombers that attacked Germany carried far more bombs and power.
Was Doolittle in any other major battles in World War 2?
Doolittle first was in China for many months before being rescued. He earned the Congressional medal of honor and was promoted to general. He served with great distinction and courage in the air Corps in North Africa and then over Europe for the rest of the war. He was involved in many major attacks and always earned the respect of his man and his superiors.
Why was it thought to be a minor battle?
How long did the Doolittle battle last in Japan??
Brooklyn,
It is incorrect to refer to it as a battle. It was a lightning fast RAID. Because Doolittle’s planes did not have the guns to carry on an air battle, his men had been trained to drop their bombs quickly on their designated targets and leave as fast as possible. Remember they had very little fuel to get to China and could not stay over Japan very long. One of the most famous accounts of the Doolittle raid was written by Capt. Ted Lawson. He titled his account “30 Seconds over Tokyo.”
Why did they name it the Doolittle raid?
Logan,
The press nicknamed it the Doolittle raid in honor of its leader, Col. Jimmy Doolittle. It was an easy way to make sure the public new the specific raid that was being referred to.
why didn’t they believe the bombers ?
Eylyn,
Bombers are very heavy planes that need a long runway to take off. Nobody, at first, believed that a bomber could take off from the much shorter runway on an aircraft carrier.
What kind of teacher was Jimmy Dolittle?
Denisse,
Doolittle taught pilots as part of his command. He was a brilliant man with a PhD. The Army often assigned him to positions where he would be teaching the men. And in preparing for the Doolittle Raid, he had to teach his men almost everything about the unique type of flying they would be doing – his men had no combat experience!
Why didn’t the Japanese believe that the bombers could have taken off from the ship?
How effective was the doolittle raid?
Jordy,
The raid was stunningly effective in raising American morale and scaring the Japanese people. While the overall material damage wasn’t you, the psychological victory was enormous. And, as I indicated in the article, it caused the Japanese to make terrible errors in judgment regarding their war strategy.
what happened after the men who survived arrived to China?
Noemi,
Some of the men were captured by the Japanese. Please read the other blog entry for a detailed description of their treatment. One crew became POW in Russia. The majority of the men were protected by Chinese people who did everything they could to help them before they could be reunited with Allied forces.
Why were some of the raiders unable to reach the Chinese mainland?
Eric,
The Raiders had been forced to take off much farther away from Japan than the original plan called for. Despite the incredibly skillful piloting of the planes, most of them ran out of fuel just as they were approaching the Chinese mainland. Some were forced to ditch in the ocean and others crashed just inland. One crew crashed in Russian territory. One of the things I find so amazing is that the Raiders new that it would be very difficult to have a safe landing in China and yet they went willingly because of their patriotic devotion to duty.
Why did the Dooliittle raid that caused some damage end up being the turning point in the war and helping us with the victory at Midway?
Blake,
As I mentioned in the article, the Japanese military did not understand the nature of the raid and reacted very poorly. For reasons mentioned in the article, it hastened their defeat at the Battle of Midway.
How where the Doolittle force’s planes not detected by Japan’s radars?
Keith,
What all the achievements Doolittle had, and why did he get them.
Did the Japanese economy recover before the end of the war?
Why did Japanese think that the US attacked from somewhere in China? Didn’t they see the air crafts that TRIED to go to China after the raid? What were the reasons that made them believe the raid was coming form China?
what did the Doolittle raid do to japan and how long did it take them to recover?
I think this was very interesting information and I would like to learn more about the Doolittle Raid.
Question: How long was Jimmy Doolittle a big help to the U.S.?
Did the Japanese Emperor know that the U.S. would attack for revenge,even though he told his people that they wouldn’t?
Sophia,
While the Japanese leadership certainly knew that the Americans were angry and would want revenge, they did not see any realistic way the Americans could launch an attack against the mainland with the equipment available to them at that moment. They vastly underestimated the creativity and daring of Doolittle and his men!
You say after the loss for the Japanese at Midway they became more defensive. Why did they become defensive? They had lost before why was this a large turning point? Was it because of the Americans vantage point?
Zoe,
The Japanese lost many ships and planes at the Battle of Midway. One of their best admirals was killed there as well. They had to go on the defensive because they lacked enough ships and planes to continue an offense of war after their defeat at the Battle of Midway.
Hey Mr. Bradford, I have a question I was hoping to ask you that made no sense to me. In the text above, you mention that the Japanese tore up airfields that they could have used. Why would the do that, that makes no sense? It is almost like they are fighting against themselves!
Syd,
That is a great question â I understand what you’re asking. The Japanese response was made out of panic and fear â they worried that American planes might be hidden in China and would attack the mainland again. Therefore by destroying the airfields, the Japanese military thought they were protecting their nation.
How did the winning side of the war react to the attack, did they see it as a win or a mistake?
Syd,
The USA won the war and thought that the Doolittle Raiders were great heroes.
Why didn’t the Japanese bomb the U.S.A ships to slow down the Americans?
Zidane,
Had the Japanese spotted the hornet and its support ships, they absolutely would have attacked them. The American Navy had moved them into position where the Japanese did not see them and therefore could not attack them.
What was the name of the plane that they took off from and how big was it? Was it one of the biggest ships back then?
Jacob,
Each of the airplanes had a different name assigned to it by their crew. Lieut. Ted Lawson, who lost his leg as a result of his crash landing, had named his plane The Ruptured Duck! The ship they took off from was the USS Hornet. Remember, because of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the fact that American forces were on the defensive in South Asia, the Navy did not have a lot of ships to risk on such a dangerous mission.
Why did the defeat of the Japanese at Midway change the course of the war?
Amber,
That is a superb question that can’t be answered very well in a short space. Until the battle of Midway, the Japanese Navy had defeated the Allied navies throughout South Asia. They controlled many islands and had inflicted many defeats on the American, British, and Australian forces. After the defeat of the Japanese at the Battle of Midway, their Navy began withdrawing toward the Japanese homeland in order to set up a defensive. From Midway on, the Allies were on the offensive and the Japanese were on the defensive.
Why did Japan think this was a small or minor battle?
Aurora,
The military leadership of Japan had to try and convince their people that little damage had been done. In reality, the military leaders were humiliated and angry by an attack that they did not prevent.
Why would they slaughter 250,000 Chinese when the Japanese could have took them as hostages and make the Chinese Empire surrender? Was it necessary to kill all those innocent people?
Katrina,
The Japanese military would not have had the ability to house a quarter of the million POWs. And they would have no guarantee that the Chinese government would surrender. After all, the Chinese did not surrender when 250,000 of their own people were killed. The deaths of so many civilians is a great stain on the Japanese military.
Why didn’t the Chinese fight back ?
Chantal,
The Chinese were at war with Japan. However the Japanese army was much more technologically advanced than the Chinese and was able to defeat them militarily. Our Chinese allies bravely protected the Doolittle Raiders even at the cost of their own lives.
What did the Japanese have to restart to build after this attack?
Stephanie,
The Japanese had to quickly repair the damage done to their buildings and power supply. The repairs of the ship that was attacked took about six months.
Did any soldiers of the doolitlle raid get a honor medal?
What are some of the places the Raiders were captured? How did some of them make it out alive? Also, were any women allowed to participate in these attacks or were they not allowed to fight in the war? Lastly, was Captain Jimmy Doolittle killed in action, killed while he was a POW, or did he live?
Kylie,
About 1 million women served in uniform for the USA during World War II but none of them flew on the Doolittle mission. Doolittle himself went on to serve with great distinction throughout the war and lived a long and highly honored life. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 96 years old. When he died there was tremendous morning among the military of America who recognize that he had been one of the all-time great commanders.
Did any soldier from the doolitlle raid get a honor medal?>
Bryan,
All of the Doolittle Raiders won the highest awards from the American government for their courage. Do you think they deserved it? They were amazing!
How long did it take to get to the target and how long did the attack last?
Ashley,
The ships carrying the Doolittle Raiders were spotted by a Japanese picket boat and so the Raiders had to take off earlier than they had planned. This is part of the reason fuel was so low. Flying time from where they took off was about six hours and they only stayed over Japan long enough to drop their bombs and then head to safety in China.
Did Japan attempt to fight back? If not then why didn’t they fight back?
Hector,
The Japanese were unable to shoot down the planes. They simply did not have good antiaircraft defenses available and although they did run air raid drills, they did not truly believe that American planes could reach the Japanese main island.
Why did the Japanese assume that there was an American base on Chinese land?
David,
The Japanese did not believe that it was possible for the bombers to have taken off from the deck of the ship. Since they knew that the planes had crashed in China they assumed they had taken off from China.
Why didn’t anybody think of doing this before and since it has never been done, don’t you think it’s too big of a risk?
Bradley,
The attack on Pearl Harbor was in December 1941. President Roosevelt immediately asked the Army to come up with a plan to strike back’s Japan. The Doolittle raid took place less than six months later â very quick response when you consider all of the logistical problems they had to overcome.
How did such myths arise if the battle was such a big thing?
Madison,
Many times events are misunderstood and one of the jobs of historians is to make sure that we understand the truth.
who came up with these myths? where these stories just passed on by people in America?
Avril,
Many historic events are misunderstood!
Why did the Japanese think it was a minor battle?
Did the Doolittle Raid cause any other kinds of material damage that you did not state? If so, what are other ways that material damage was caused?
If the battle was minor, then why could it have a turning point on WWII?
Jessica,
Many World War II battles were fought with huge armies and navies. The use of 16 lightly armed planes could not be considered a major battle. But it did have important and unexpected consequences!
In the Doolittle Raid Why would you only send 80 men if there was a lot more people you had to defeat? Also why would they call it the Doolittel Raid if it wasn’t his idea? Yeah he was the one who made the whole thing happen and lead it through but this would have never happened if it wasn’t for the guy who came up with the idea. Did they give any recognition or credit for who actually came up with the plan?
Annie,
The Raid was never designed to defeat the Japanese; it was designed to scare them and to make a point about the American resolve to fight back. Doolittle and the military always gave credit to the men who developed the initial plan. Doolittle was a humble man! The Raid is named for him because he was responsible for every phase of it. He even flew the first plane off the deck of the Hornet!
âąWho made those miscalculations in the third myth?
âąWhy hadn’t Japan taken precautions and prepared themselves for an attack from the U.S.?
âąHow did the Chinese responded to Japan slaughtering them?
why did so little planes reach its point?
Ashlynn,
Every one of the planes reached its primary or secondary target. The pilots were amazing!
Why did they only use 80 planes. Could they have sent more
how many Japanese planes did they use throughout world war 2
Why did the Japanese in myth three think there was a military base in China?
Lindsey,
They knew the range of the bombers and calculated that they would have taken off from a base in China.
How long did it take the Doolittle Raiders to perfect taking off from an aircraft carrier with B-25 Mitchell medium bombers?
why didnt they believe the bombers?
Angela,
The Bombers, as used by the Doolittle Raiders, were flying well outside of the range that had been established for them. They were being asked to fly in a way they were not designed for!
How big were the air craft carriers?
Noah,
The Hornet was about 820 feet long.
What type of weapons did the aircraft carriers have?
The aircraft carriers were well equipped, but could not offer any support for the Raiders, as the attack took place far from the ships!
How did the Japanese react to the attack?
Caleb,
With anger and confusion! Check previous answers for more details!
how many of the raiders die? how many survived?
Brooke,
I answered this question above. 72 of the 80 Raiders survived the Raid and its aftermath.
Why did the U.S. send out the planes to bomb Japan when they knew that most of them were not going to come back alive?
Evan,
The men in the Doolittle Raid did NOT believe it was a suicide mission. They knew it was dangerous, unprecedented and very risky. The fact that so many returned alive is proof that the basic plan worked.
Why did the U.S. give the planes only enough fuel to get to Japan?
Evan,
The bombers were carrying extra fuel! They simply were not designed for the type of flying that was required of them for the raid on Tokyo.
What was the Japanese to gain from bombing pearl Harbor?
Jackson,
The Japanese felt that by destroying the American fleet at Pearl Harbor that the USA would be unable to stop the Japanese navy from carrying out their objectives in the South Pacific.
How did the doolittle raid lead to the atomic bomb
Johnny,
There is no direct connection between the two.
does the navy teach about Doolittle’s achievements and if they do, how does he reflect to the army now?
Carolina,
The Air Force absolutely teaches about Doolittle! Although the tactics and equipment would not be used today, he is held up as a model of courage and leadership. I think that is the right thing to do!
Hello! My question will be,
What do you think would happen if the Japanese actually thought that the bomber could fly off from a ship… do you think they would have been more prepared for the attack, and found some way to do something to stop them? Or would things still happen anyway?
Mikayla,
Interesting question. Even assuming that the Japanese knew it was possible, they would still have seen it as very unlikely, given how far the Hornet was from Japan. They had run an air alert earlier, so they were at least thinking about an attack, but the skill and daring of the Doolittle Raiders was beyond their thinking!
Did the Japanese have any plans to attack the United States again or did they loose many supplies and men?
Grace,
The Japanese did not have forces able to attack the USA mainland even before the Doolittle Raid. After the Battle of Midway they were on the defensive and their ability to resupply their losses declined rapidly.
hello,my question is about how many raiders survived from when they flew to bomb japan?
Aidan,
72 of the 80 Raiders eventually made it home to the USA.
How bad was the hit to the Japanese economy when the Doolittle bombs hit?
Tyler,
The economic losses to Japan were fixed rather quickly but they had to scramble to repair the damage and lost some supplies and the use of a ship that they needed.
How did the Doolittle raid effect the U.S. and Japan?
What did japan do to the U.S after we did this to them
Matthew,
As the article explains, the Japanese took immediate action that had disastrous results for themselves!
Why did they call it the Doolittle Raid? Because of his name?
Yes
Why was it called the Doolittle Raid? Cause of his name?
Mr Bradford,
Do you know the nickname of the plane that Lt Travis Hoover piloted in the Doolittle Raid ?….I have searched online and have yet to find this answer…Also wanted to say what a great article…Thank You…
they say, because of the international dateline,they arrived china one day earlier than planned. i do not understand, isn’t it one day later?
Hi,
The flights were launched from west of the International Date Line. Hawaii is East of the line.
Barry
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why didm”t japanese fighter planes engage the Raiders?
Coincidentally the raid happened on the same day as a major country-wide defense exercise and High Japanese command were unaware of the raid until after it was already over.
Many thanks. I remember learning about the raid and all of the events involved. [I was less than 10 years old ] However this was the first accounting of the damage afflicted and impact on the war that I have seen . . . much greater than I knew. It’s a shame our education system doesn’t apparently deal with such history . . . present day teachers are too young to be knowledgeable.
I always thought that the palace should have been attacked also. I know the Emperor was not there but it would have devastated the military. When the war was over they said they couldn’t try the Emperor because they thought it would demoralize the country. Well if that was the case, a Doolittle attack on the palace would have demoralized them in 1942..
As a youth (a few decades ago), I read a book about the Doolittle raid (I can’t recall the book or the author). It mentioned that as the task force crossed the International Date Line (announced on the ship’s 1MC PA system). In the account I read, the executive officer (I think of the raiders) realized he didn’t account for the time change in his planning, so the ETA given to the Chinese was incorrect. But due to radio silence requirements, there was no way to inform the landing fields in China when to expect the aircraft. Can you verify this?