Missions That Changed The War - The Doolittle Raid

Outraged at the attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR ordered his military leaders to hit back at an enemy whose homeland was beyond the reach of US warplanes. The result was a daring plan that only one man could execute: Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle. Narrated by Gary Sinise (CSI: NY), seen on the Military Channel, this series recounts the mission that raised a nation’s spirits and altered the outcome of WWII.

Episode 1 The Call to War

Military experts select the Mitchell B-25 bomber as their weapon of choice for the raid on Japan. With a range of 2,000 miles and a 2,000 lb. payload, the twin-engine aircraft needs 1,200 feet of runway to get airborne—more than three times the length of an aircraft carrier runway. In order to solve the problem, the military calls in its best and brightest.

Episode 2 Special Aviation Project Number One

At the age of 46, aviation legend Jimmy Doolittle returns to active duty to take command of the top-secret bombing mission. The former racing pilot is a brilliant aviation technician with a doctorate from MIT. To get his men and his planes ready in just 90 days, Doolittle brings all of his many talents to bear.

Episode 3 The Target of This Task Force Is Tokyo

As they make their way across the Pacific, the crew of the USS Hornet is finally told the details about their mission. The carrier task force will try to get within 400 miles of Tokyo before the bombers fly off. But if the Japanese spot them earlier than that, Doolittle and the other pilots will have to take off immediately—whether or not they have the fuel to complete their mission.

Episode 4 The Legacy

All 16 B-25s reach Japan and carry out their bombing runs on industrial and military targets in Tokyo and other cities. But none has sufficient fuel to reach its intended destination in China, and the crews prepare to bail out or crash land wherever they can. Stuck in a paddy field, Doolittle—unaware of the impact his raid will make—fears he will face a court martial.

Upplagd i sortimentet: 2 mars, 2013