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Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and starts military operations against the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands. -
Japanese forces invade the Philippines and Malaya.
Japanese forces invade the Philippines and Malaya. -
Guam, Makin, and Tarawa are invaded and occupied by Japan.
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Germany and Italy declare war on the United States.
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Roosevelt calls for a bombing raid against Japan
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Wake Islad falls to the Japanese after US Marines put up a valiant defense
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Japan takes Hong Kong
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Japanese Army units invade Burma, and later move north to the Chinese border and threaten India.
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Manila falls as US forces retreat south towards Corregidor
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Duncan briefs Arnold on the initial plan. Arnold selects Doolitlle to organize, train, and equip aircrews for the Tokyo attack
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Target selection begins for the operation
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Period: to
Demonstration test of a B-25 bomber launch off the aircraft carrier Hornet succeeds.
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British forces surrender in Singapore.
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Japanese naval forces conduct operations in the Indian Ocean
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Washington requests Stillwell to ask Chiang Kai-shek for permission to use airfields and to gather ground crews to support the raid.
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Nimitz is briefed on the raid; the decision is made to add another carrier to support the attack. halsey is selected for thetask.
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Doolittle and crews complete Eglin training
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All aircraft and crew arrive at Sacramento Air Depot, CA for final aircraft checks.
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Doolittle and Halsey meet in San Francisco for final co-ordination.
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Aircraft and crew load on board the Hornet at Naval Air Station Alameda.
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TF-18 leaves San Francisco Bay for mission
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TF-16 departs Pearl harbor to rendezvous with TF-18
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Japanese radio analysts claims to have received signals from TF-16.
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TF-16 and TF-18 rendezvous and move towards Japan.
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CHinese airfields are ready with fuel and support to receive the Doolitlle raiders.
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Hornet and Enterprise, along with the cruisers, separeate from TF-16. They speed towards thei intended launch point.
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0310
Surface radar contact is made by Enterprise crew members with Japanese picket ships. -
0508
Enterprise launches the first combat air patrols. -
0522
Search planes are sent out; one crew believes they have seen a ship and that the Japanese have spotted them -
0630
Nitto Maru reports to IJN HQ in Tokyo that it has seen three carriers. Coincidently, Japanese launch routine patrol aircraft. -
0744
Hornet crew members, on watch, spot the Nitto Maru. -
0750
The USS Nashville attacks the Nitto Maru and eventually sinks her. -
0800
Halsey decides to launch the raid early since he beleieves TF-16 is now known to the Japanese. -
0803
Hornet increases speed and turns into the wind for launch. -
0820
Doolittle's plae is the first off the Hornet to bomb Tokyo. -
0921
The last B-25 leaves the Hornet, TF-16 immediately plots coruse for return to Pearly Harbor. -
1200
Japanese obsevers spot bombersflying over MIto, and repot their findings. -
1230
Doolittle attacks his first target in the Tokyo area. -
1245
The IJN's 26th Air Flotilla is ordered to search and destroy any attacking bombers. -
1424
USS Nashville sinks a patrol boat. Enterprise aircraft sink another. -
1445
First news of Tokyo bombing raid is broadcast via radio transmission. -
Period: to
Doolittle Raid
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Doolittle promoted to rank of Brigadier General
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Roosevelt publicly admits the raid took place, claiming the planes were launched from their secret base at "Shangri-La."
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Doolittle crew members are all awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
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TF-16 returns safely to Pearl Harbor, with no damage or losses to ships.
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A few Doolittle crew members arrivein Chungking.
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Doolittle arrives in Chungking.
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Yamamoto's plan to attack Midway Island and draw the American Pacific Fleet into a decisive battle is approved.
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Period: to
The Battle of Midwayends in a decisive American victory. IJN carrier supremacy is over.
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The Japanesse try the two captured B-25 crews for war crimes.
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Hallmark, Farrow, and Spatz are executed by the Japanese. Others are sentenced to life imprisonment.
