ON THIS DAY ·
Doolittle Raid on Tokyo
Sixteen bombers, launched impossibly from a carrier, strike Tokyo. The damage is trivial; the consequences point at Midway.
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The moment in context
Japan had planned an operation against Midway before the Doolittle Raid made it more urgent. In April 1942, sixteen American bombers took off from a carrier and struck Japan. Their material damage was small, but the home islands had been reached, embarrassing the navy sworn to protect them. Taking Midway could extend Japan’s defensive perimeter and draw the American carriers into the decisive battle Japanese commanders wanted.
From Battle of Midway, chapter 8 of The War Room — WW2, 1936–1945 (JUN 1942).
Teach this in 5 minutes
- Why it happened — The Doolittle Raid. American aircraft had reached Japan, even though the Doolittle Raid did little material damage. That embarrassment strengthened the case for…
- The turn — The carrier strikes, 4 June 1942. Around 10:20–10:25 a.m. on 4 June 1942, American dive-bombers attacked Akagi, Kaga and Sōryū, mortally damaging all three within minutes. The…
- What it changed — A counteroffensive begins. Four fleet carriers were gone, weakening Japan’s ability to support further expansion, and its perimeter stopped growing. Two months later, in…
Then ask the room: Was the American victory at Midway a matter of luck or calculated risk? The argued answer is on the chapter page →
The atlas that shows it
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