The Doolittle Raid on Tokyo Begins

18 April 1942 - Navy report of the take off of 16 Army Air Force bombers from the deck of the USS Hornet, the first US bombing run on Japan. Navy folks didn't seem to have much respect for the Army pilots, "With only one exception, take-offs were dangerous and improperly executed." They note however, that their own "Plane handling on the flight deck was expeditious and well done. One plane handler lost an arm by backing into a B-25 propeller."