In the first meaningful blow struck against the Japanese Empire since the Pearl Harbor attack, sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers led by Lt. Colonel James Doolittle are launched from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet from a point 650 miles west of Japan — 170 miles farther out than planned, due to the spotting of the Hornet’s task force by a Japanese fishing boat. In what became known as the Tokyo Raid, the B-25’s bombed ten military and industrial targets in Tokyo, two in Yokohama, and one each in Yokosuka, Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka. While inflicting minor damage, the raid boosted American morale and raised doubts about the ability of the Japanese military to protect the Home Islands.
Ironically, Doolittle, who initially thought the raid a failure, would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and all 80 Doolittle Raiders would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. They were also decorated by the Chinese government.