Accession Number: 2023-023-02
Original work: Oil on linen
Original size: 17 by 30 inches
On 0820 hours on18 April 1942, only five months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Hornet (CV-8) launched a retaliatory raid on Tokyo and other industrial cities surrounding Tokyo Bay. The raid, as well as the first crew, was commanded by Lt. Col. James Doolittle using Army Air Corps B-25 bombers. These bombers were the only aircraft in the U.S. inventory that could both launch from a carrier and had the range to perform the planned mission. The weather was 9/10 broken cloud cover at 1000’ and visibility was excellent. Hornet was spotted some five hours before the planned launch time and an enemy transmission was intercepted, signaling that Tokyo had been alerted, so the raiders were given extra fuel containers and launched early. All sixteen raiders hit their targets, but in the big scheme of things caused relatively minor damage. However, the boost to American morale was immeasurable and the Japanese held back huge resources that would have been better utilized on various fronts, which continued throughout the war. At 0921 plane sixteen was launched and at 0927 the Hornet changed course to due east and at 25 knots arrived in Pearl Harbor on 25 April.
Reproduction Size:
If not indicated, the average reproduction is approximately 20x26 inches. All reproductions are custom printed and can be printed/framed to various sizes. We are happy to quote various options. Contact Us
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