This documentary, directed by Tim Gray and narrated by Tom Kane, is a very detailed accounting of the heroic Doolittle Raider's and their secret mission to bomb Tokyo, and other Japanese cities, on April 18th, 1942. After the sneak attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, on December 7th 1941, and with Japanese forces sweeping across the Pacific and the Asian mainland, the Doolittle Raid was regarded as a morale booster to the United States, and others, and a blow to the supposed Japanese impregnability.
Eighty Air Force servicemen, all volunteers, and led by Lt. Col. James Doolitle, would fly 16 B-25 bombers, in 5 man crews, for this mission, for which many regarded as "suicidal". They were transported on the U.S.S. Hornet aircraft carrier to within 500 miles off the Japanese coast, and would fly just 200 feet above the Pacific to avoid Japanese radar.
They all knew they would not have enough fuel to return to the carrier but secret landing strips had been set up by the Chinese Resistance forces under the Japanese Occupation there. I had known about the raid but had no idea what happened after the bombs were dropped on their targets in Japan.
For those that will view the movie, I won't write spoilers as to the fate of the flyers, but it is a truly remarkable story in itself, including so much help they received from Chinese citizens. The film contains wonderful archival footage as well as interviews of the few remaining Raiders. As of this writing, there is only one surviving Raider now, and that's Richard Cole who is a major part of the documentary.
I obtained this DVD copy at my local library, and it is only about 55 min. in length. To note also, there were no subtitles available on my DVD copy.
Overall, the bravery of these men was truly remarkable, and as so many others have told them over the years--thank you for all that you did.
Eighty Air Force servicemen, all volunteers, and led by Lt. Col. James Doolitle, would fly 16 B-25 bombers, in 5 man crews, for this mission, for which many regarded as "suicidal". They were transported on the U.S.S. Hornet aircraft carrier to within 500 miles off the Japanese coast, and would fly just 200 feet above the Pacific to avoid Japanese radar.
They all knew they would not have enough fuel to return to the carrier but secret landing strips had been set up by the Chinese Resistance forces under the Japanese Occupation there. I had known about the raid but had no idea what happened after the bombs were dropped on their targets in Japan.
For those that will view the movie, I won't write spoilers as to the fate of the flyers, but it is a truly remarkable story in itself, including so much help they received from Chinese citizens. The film contains wonderful archival footage as well as interviews of the few remaining Raiders. As of this writing, there is only one surviving Raider now, and that's Richard Cole who is a major part of the documentary.
I obtained this DVD copy at my local library, and it is only about 55 min. in length. To note also, there were no subtitles available on my DVD copy.
Overall, the bravery of these men was truly remarkable, and as so many others have told them over the years--thank you for all that you did.
