The Doolittle Raid 1942

The Doolittle Raid was a masterful combination of planning, daring, and execution. Throughout the raid’s planning, a joint perspective of the military operation was used. Army and Navy resources were used to overcome shortfalls and push innovative thinking to fruition. This operation foreshadowed, in some respects, future joint Army–Navy operations in the Pacific, in which combined forces would co-operate to dismantle the Japanese Empire by island-hopping actions throughout the Pacific. Deploying a land-based medium bomber force from an aircraft carrier had never been accomplished before, and such a bold plan required close co-operation, training, and planning.

Acceptance of risk by senior military leadership was also a key part of the raid. The potential loss of a major task force, while limited naval resources maintained the thin defensive line of the United States Pacific Fleet, was not to be taken lightly, nor was the nation’s willingness to accept risk. The nation would need to use a significant amount of vital naval forces to launch an attack comprising only 16 bombers. On the face of it, the returns were minimal compared to the risks. A simple cost-benefit in tactical terms would have forced a cancelation of the attack; however, the strategic effect was the key factor. Affecting the enemy’s confidence, and shifting the strategic focus for the Japanese, far outweighed the potential loss of Doolittle’s aircraft. Raising the confidence of the United States’ populace towards winning the war was another potential benefit. A few daring men willing to take a chance could bring significant rewards for the US.

The strategic effect also demonstrated the value of air power. Earlier advocates of this new aspect of military power had argued that air power could create far-ranging influences by attacking critical targets. For example, the destruction of leadership or key industrial areas could cripple a targeted country. Air power also provided a relatively swift and direct strike capability straight to the heart of an enemy, as shown at Pearl Harbor and in the Battle of Britain. An attack on Tokyo and other areas could demonstrate the vulnerability of the Japanese leadership, military, industry, and people and show that their navy and air forces could not defend themselves.