B-25s take off on road to Tokyo

Front:
ТОКYO BOMBED! ANAPOLIS29 17 1992 46206-25s take off to raid Tokyo April 18, 1942 RAIDERS BOMB KEY MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS US Chris Calle

Back:
B-25s TAKE OFF ON ROAD TO TOKYO First Day of Issue: August 17, 1992 First Issue Location: Indianapolis, Indiana One of the boldest, most spectacular aerial operations in military history commenced on April 18, 1942, when 16 B-25s rumbled off the pitching decks of the U.S.S. Hornet and proceeded toward their target — Tokyo. Dodging furious anti-aircraft fire, they dropped their loads on several enemy military installations and sped away, hoping to reach the Chinese mainland before their fuel ran out. Few aircraft made it. Of the 82 volunteer crew- man, 70 made it back to America. The brainchild of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, mission commander, this bombing raid struck at the very heart of Japanese society. Shocked and staggered by this attack on their supposedly invin- cible empire, and finding themselves without the benefit of air-raid shelters, the people of Tokyo scattered and ran mindlessly through the city's streets in a state of panic. In the aftermath, Japanese officials scurried to the Emperor's palace to apologize for the “negligence" that had allowed this attack on their homeland. The officer charged with Tokyo's air-defense committed suicide. No. 92-101 First Day of Issue Postcard Collection™ ©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001 Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Chris Calle Fleetwood