23. The B-25 Turned Out to be the Right Plane to Accomplish an Extraordinary Feat
The B-25 had been designed in response to a 1939 Air Corps solicitation for an airplane that could carry a 2400-pound bomb load for 1200 miles, at a speed of 300 miles per hour. North American Aviation came back with a plane that exceeded the bomb load and range requirements, with 3000 pounds for 1350 miles, and came close to the solicited speed at 272 miles per hour. It first flew in 1940 and entered service in 1941. B-25s had not been tested in combat, but on paper, they seemed like they just might suit Doolittle’s needs. So he tested the bomber to find out whether it was as good in practice for the mission as it seemed to be in theory.
Two B-25s were loaded aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, and flew off its deck on February 3rd, 1942, without a problem. With proof of concept out of the way, Doolittle set out to find and train aircrews for the raid. He found them in the 17th Bombardment Group, which was flying B-25Bs on antisubmarine patrols off Oregon’s coast. The 17th was transferred to South Carolina, under cover of flying similar missions on the East Coast. When they arrived, Doolittle asked for volunteers for an “extremely hazardous” mission. Nearly the entire group stepped forward.