30 Seconds Over Tokyo

On this day in 1942, sixteen Army Air Force B-25's launched from the deck of the USS Hornet in one of the most daring and courageous missions of World War II. Since December 7, 1941, the U.S. had suffered one disastrous defeat after another in the Pacific, and the troops and the folks back home were desperately in need of a morale boost. The raid on Tokyo was America's way of saying "look out, we're coming to get you!".

Although the raid did little real damage, it provided a real uplift to the American people and the armed forces, and a significant punch in the solar plexus to the Japanese. For the first time in the war the Japanese discovered that their home cities were vulnerable to attack. Admiral Yamamoto's fears following the Pearl Harbor attack of "awakening a sleeping giant" were beginning to come true.

Stroube Smith writes a commentary piece in today's Washington Times which pays homage to the brave fliers who carried out this daring mission. Read the whole thing here.