Photographs from the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo
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Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, Army Air Force (left front), leader of the raiding force, talks with Captain Marc A. Mitscher, Navy, Commanding Officer of USS Hornet (CV-8). Members of the Army Air Forces flight crews are in the background.
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Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, Army Air Force (front), leader of the raiding force, wires a Japanese medal to a 500-pound bomb, during ceremonies on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8).
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An Army Air Force B-25B bomber awaits the takeoff signal on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8), as the raid is launched, April 18, 1942.
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An Army Air Force B-25B bomber takes off from the USS Hornet (CV-8) at the start of the raid, April 18, 1942.
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USS Hornet (CV-8) launches Army Air Force B-25B bombers, at the start of the first U.S. air raid on the Japanese home islands, April 18, 1942.
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Nose of one of the raiding force's B-25B bombers, which is tied down on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8) while en route to the takeoff point.
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View looking aft from the island of the USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Gwin (DD-443) is coming alongside, as USS Nashville (CL-43) steams in the distance.
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Two of the operation's sixteen Army Air Force B-25B bombers, parked on the flight deck of the USS Hornet, while en route to the mission launching point. Note protective cover over its gun turret and wooden dummy guns mounted in its tail cone.
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Crewmen work on an Army Air Force B-25B parked at the rear of the USS Hornet's (CV-8) flight deck, while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Gwin (DD-443) is in the center, approaching the carrier from astern.
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View looking aft and to port from the island of the USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Vincennes (CA-44) is in the distance.
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Some of the mission's B-25B bombers parked on the flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the raid's takeoff point.
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Army Air Force B-25B bombers parked on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the mission's launching point.
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An Army Air Force B-25B bomber flies over the USS Hornet (CV-8) while on its way to attack targets in Japan, just after it was launched on the morning of April 18, 1942.
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An Army Air Force B-25B bomber lines up for takeoff from the USS Hornet (CV-8), on the morning of April 18, 1942. This is the third or fourth plane to be launched.
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View looking aft from the island of the USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Nashville (CL-43) is in the distance.
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Army Air Force B-25B bombers and Navy F4F-3 fighters on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8), while she was en route to the mission's launching point. Note wooden dummy machine guns in the tail cone of the B-25 at left.
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Army Air Force aircrewmen preparing .50 caliber machine gun ammunition on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8).
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Army Air Force aircrewmen preparing .50 caliber machine gun ammunition on the flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8). Ammunition box in center is marked "A.P. M2, Incndy. M1, Trcr.M1", indicating the ammunition types: armor piercing, incendiary and tracer.
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Army Air Force B-25B bombers tied down on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8), while the carrier was en route to the mission's launching point.
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Army Air Force B-25B bombers tied down on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8), while the carrier was en route to the mission's launching point. View looks aft from the rear of the Hornet's island.