WinstonSmith101
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B25s parked across USS Hornet’s deck
Doolittle’s Marauder’s ready to hammer Tokyo. OK- so here’s the rub. I’m impressed no end with how Doolittle’s boys, with the help of the US Navy, poked Tojo in the eye. But what’s always bothered me is how the B25s took off from the deck of the Hornet, when the entire deck is taken up with, well, other B25s... I mean, the last to go would have space and run up, but the front planes had little more than another plan length to run up before take off. Even with skinneyed down planes- that’s not enough runway. I can’t find video of them taking off with the other planes still on deck, and I can’t see where they stored them (as the deck lifts couldn’t take them - so how? Genuinely intrigued...
prepboomer
Watch “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.” It shows how they re-spotted the deck to allow for takeoff run. Great B-25 flight scenes, too.
pauli133
https://imgur.com/gBKH3cj
UvuvwevwevweOnyetenyevweUgwemubwemOsas
thats plane wrong
TallLightnHandsome
This is only part of the deck. Forward deck is clear, enabling planes to take off. 1/2
TallLightnHandsome
2/2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Hornet_(CV-8)_launching_B-25B_Mitchell_bomber_during_the_Doolittle_Raid_on_18_April_1942.jpg
Johnsky
Huh. Now I'm curious. I wonder if they used headwind to their advantage aswell.
RaptorCav
It’s how carrier operations take place to this day. “Let’s get turned into the wind.”
Madhatter1213
Yes they had the hornet running into the wind at full power
Gandalfsuglybrother
Doolittle was promoted the next day, Jul 42, from Lt. Colonel to Brigadier Gen. In September 42 he was promoted to Major General.
Gandalfsuglybrother
2)So three ranks in 2 months.
NotThatJoeYouKnow
there is a pic on the Wiki article that shows Doolittle taking off and you can see that from tower forward was clear
NotThatJoeYouKnow
they also lightened the hell out of the planes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid#Preparation
NotThatJoeYouKnow
467 feet
NotThatJoeYouKnow
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid
pottomusmaximus
About 2/3 of the flightdeck was filled with B25s, Doolitte's B25 was 1st. Hornet was at flank speed into the wind. Giant balls.
42ndLifetime
That last bit, the "giant balls," was the most important part.
WinstonSmith101
I’m even more impressed-462‘. Holy crap. Imagine seeing the end of the flight deck and that wide blue ocean as you’re throttling like hell!
skipweasel
Presumably they only needed the area forward of the far end of the catapult clear. No "run up" required.
NotThatJoeYouKnow
WW2 is before catapults
skipweasel
Before the modern steam catapult, but USS Hornet had a transverse one (later removed), and they'd been in use in the First World War.
NotThatJoeYouKnow
Doolittle's B25's didn't launch with catapults nor did most carrier aircraft at the time and they aren't like a modern carrier setup
skipweasel
Though looking at the photo of one of the raiders launching, a catapult wasn't used. Lightened planes, and steam into the wind, I suppose.
NotThatJoeYouKnow
yup they had 462 feet to launch the bombers
skipweasel
Yeah - I stopped making dinner and went and looked it up!