On This Day, April 18th, 1942
0600 hrs -The USS Hornet-(CV-8) -commanded by Capt Marc A.Mitscher (later Adm Mitscher) gave the orders to launch the US Army Air Corps B-25 Mitchel bombers on their fateful one way trip to bomb Tokyo and surrounding vicinity.
The day before (in the early am of the 17th) some Japanese fishing vessels were sighted so the Capt and Ltcol Doolittle decided to launch his B-25s the next day (the 18th) even though they were 300 miles East of their original plan. This meant that more fuel was needed to complete the mission. The Navy came up with a 50 gal drum for ea aircraft, placed in the cabin and filled them along with a jury rig to secure them and somehow attach fuel lines. This was an all nite work force on the nite of 17 April. Since this would add 300 more lbs to the weight (already heavy for a deck launch of about 475 ft)something had to be removed from the aircraft. Turrets were removed and broom handle/sticks were secured in place to look like guns.
Doolittle was the first plane off. It was necessary to paint a line for the nose wheel to follow because, if in the center of the deck, the starboard wing would strike the Island super-structure...the port main mount was dangerously close to the port catwalk...but...and away he went. His plane settled off the bow to within 50-75 ft off the water before he started to climb. Interestingly enough (although no factor) this was the 1st launch of a nose wheel aircraft from an aircraft carrier.
On this day, I was a sailor stationed in Norfolk, Va., in PATRON 55 (VP-55). I remember the day, but the details would come only come back to me in 1984, by retired USAF Col Travis Hoover who as a lst Lt., and was the pilot of the #2 B-25 to be launched. Lt Hoover was a guest of mine in Pensacola. I had managed to learn of him and got him to speak to our Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW).
Contrary to popular belief, Doolittle's planes did not join up and proceed to the Mainland of Japan in formation.They fanned out and each plane had a separate target. The whole idea, of course, was to shatter the morale of the Japanese citizens because they had been told that the US had no way of attacking them because of distance, etc. Hopefully each plane could make it to China or anywhere away from the Japanese mainland. Some did, but most didn't. Some of the pilots that didn't reach their targets and had to crash land somewhere, were executed by the enemy.
Lt Hoover, after dropping his bombs, managed to get away and when fuel was exhausted, landed in a Rice Paddy somewhere. He and his co-pilot (no other crew) torched the aircraft and burned it. A young Chinese boy guided them a day or so to safety.
The raiders used to hold a re-union each year and in 1984 it was held in Pensacola at the Naval Air Museum . I was a flight instructor in the Navy Flying Club, at the time, and I also owned a Cessna 170 (tail wheel airplane). The Pensacola Aviation center at Pensacola Regional rolled out the Red Carpet for Travis Hoover, and I was privileged to fly him across Hurlburt Field (an Air Force base near Ft.Walton) where they trained for short field take-offs long before the Doolittle mission. Hoover was about 75 yrs old in 1984. He lived in Joplin, MO and his step-son, and a couple other civilian pilots, had acquired a B-25 and flew it with the so-called Confederate Air Force located in Harlingon,TX at the time. They would take Travis for a ride every once in awhile in their civilian B-25. A retired Navy Capt (forgot the name) was a member of our MOWW and he had been ship's company on the Hornet during this time in 1984.
To visit with and come to know Travis Hoover was a neat experience and I'll always remember his since of humor. Incidentally, the young Chinese lad who helped Travis and his co-pilot get away was made an honorary member of the raiders and he came to all their re-unions and I got to meet him. He was about 64 yrs old at the time I met him.
I enjoy sharing these stories and hope all will enjoy the past with me...Regards to all.
Floyd H Brown, CDR USN, Captain (retired)
On this day, April 18, 1942