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James Harold Doolittle was born in Alameda, [[California]], on December 14, 1896. After graduating from high school in [[Los Angeles]], he received his higher education at the Los Angeles Junior College and the University of California. He enlisted in the Army's Signal Corps Reserve in October 1917, received flight training and was commissioned in March 1918. During the [[World War I|First World War]], Lieutenant Doolittle instructed Air Corps students in aerial gunnery and tactics.

James Harold Doolittle was born in Alameda, [[California]], on December 14, 1896. After graduating from high school in [[Los Angeles]], he received his higher education at the Los Angeles Junior College and the University of California. He enlisted in the Army's Signal Corps Reserve in October 1917, received flight training and was commissioned in March 1918. During the [[World War I|First World War]], Lieutenant Doolittle instructed Air Corps students in aerial gunnery and tactics.

During the 1920s, Doolittle's military aviation achievements made him famous. He made a record-breaking trans-continental flight in September 1922; won the Schneider, Bendix and Thompson air racing trophies; and played an important role in the development of instrument flying. In addition to flying exploits, in mid-decade he obtained Master of Science and Doctor of Science degrees from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].

During the 1920s, Doolittle's military aviation achievements made him famous. He made a record-breaking transcontinental flight in September 1922; won the Schneider, Bendix and Thompson air racing trophies; and played an important role in the development of instrument flying. In addition to flying exploits, in mid-decade he obtained Master of Science and Doctor of Science degrees from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].

Doolittle left Army Air Corps (as the Air Force was known prior to being established as a separate branch in 1947) active service in 1930, though he remained active as a Reserve officer. Working in private industry, he was instrumental in improving aviation fuels and became the president of the [[Institute of Aeronautical Science]] in 1940. In July of that year, he returned to active duty with the Air Corps, subsequently working to convert the automobile industry to military production.

Doolittle left Army Air Corps (as the Air Force was known prior to being established as a separate branch in 1947) active service in 1930, though he remained active as a Reserve officer. Working in private industry, he was instrumental in improving aviation fuels and became the president of the [[Institute of Aeronautical Science]] in 1940. In July of that year, he returned to active duty with the Air Corps, subsequently working to convert the automobile industry to military production.

The raid had its roots in a chance observation that it was possible to launch Army twin-engined bombers from an aircraft carrier, making feasible an early air attack on Japan. Appraised of the idea in January 1942, U.S. Fleet commander Admiral [[Ernest J. King]] and Air Forces leader General [[Henry H. Arnold]] greeted it with enthusiasm. Arnold assigned the technically-astute Doolittle to organize and lead a suitable air group. The modern, but relatively well-tested [[B-25 Mitchell|B-25B "Mitchell"]] medium bomber was selected as the delivery vehicle and tests showed that it could fly off a carrier with a useful bomb load and enough fuel to hit Japan and continue on to airfields in [[China]].

The raid had its roots in a chance observation that it was possible to launch Army twin-engined bombers from an aircraft carrier, making feasible an early air attack on Japan. Appraised of the idea in January 1942, U.S. Fleet commander Admiral [[Ernest J. King]] and Air Forces leader General [[Henry H. Arnold]] greeted it with enthusiasm. Arnold assigned the technically-astute Doolittle to organize and lead a suitable air group. The modern, but relatively well-tested [[B-25 Mitchell|B-25B "Mitchell"]] medium bomber was selected as the delivery vehicle and tests showed that it could fly off a carrier with a useful bomb load and enough fuel to hit Japan and continue on to airfields in [[China]].

[[Image:Doolittle1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|April 18, 1942: the Doolittle Raid about to launch from USS ''Hornet''.]]

[[Image:Doolittle1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|April 18, 1942: the Doolittle Raid about to launch from USS ''Hornet''.]]

Gathering volunteer air crews for an unspecified, but admittedly dangerous mission, Doolittle embarked on a vigourous program of special training for his men and modifications to their planes. The new carrier USS ''Hornet'' was sent to the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] to undertake the Navy's part of the mission. So secret was the operation that her Commanding Officer, Captain Marc A. Mitscher, had no idea of his ship's upcoming employment until shortly before sixteen B-25s were loaded on her flight deck (Most of Doolittle's men also had no idea what they were doing, even as they were being trained by a Naval officer on short take-offs prior to their arrival in Alameda). On 2 April 1942 Hornet put to sea and headed west across the vast Pacific.   

Gathering volunteer air crews for an unspecified, but admittedly dangerous mission, Doolittle embarked on a vigorous program of special training for his men and modifications to their planes. The new carrier USS ''Hornet'' was sent to the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] to undertake the Navy's part of the mission. So secret was the operation that her Commanding Officer, Captain Marc A. Mitscher, had no idea of his ship's upcoming employment until shortly before sixteen B-25s were loaded on her flight deck (Most of Doolittle's men also had no idea what they were doing, even as they were being trained by a Naval officer on short take-offs prior to their arrival in Alameda). On 2 April 1942 Hornet put to sea and headed west across the vast Pacific.   

Joined in mid-ocean on 13 April by Vice Admiral [[William F. Halsey]]'s flagship ''[[USS Enterprise]]'', which would provide air cover during the approach, Hornet steamed toward a planned 18 April afternoon launching point some 400 miles from [[Japan]]. However, before dawn on 18 April, enemy picket boats were encountered much further east than expected. These were evaded or sunk, but got off radio warnings, forcing the planes to take off around 8 AM, while still more than 600 miles out.

Joined in mid-ocean on 13 April by Vice Admiral [[William F. Halsey]]'s flagship ''[[USS Enterprise]]'', which would provide air cover during the approach, Hornet steamed toward a planned 18 April afternoon launching point some 400 miles from [[Japan]]. However, before dawn on 18 April, enemy picket boats were encountered much further east than expected. These were evaded or sunk, but got off radio warnings, forcing the planes to take off around 8 AM, while still more than 600 miles out.