Another 15 minutes later, another reconnaissance plane returned to the top of the "Enterprise" and dropped a bamboo tube on the deck: the Japanese patrol boat closest to us did not find us, and they changed direction and headed towards the "Hornet". Heading quickly in the direction, another Japanese reconnaissance plane also changed its route midway and flew to the Hornet.
The captain, Colonel George D. Murray, breathed a sigh of relief: "The enemy's patrol boats and reconnaissance aircraft were attracted by the Hornet. He ordered the fleet to move forward at full speed, and all pilots were ready to take off at any time... "
Pillar Island.
[Yamato] On board the battleship.
Yamamoto Isoroku, who was so excited that he almost didn't sleep all night, received a report: Two reconnaissance boats could not be contacted and the radio stations were turned off. They probably encountered enemy situations and were sunk before they could send a report.
Yamamoto judged that the Americans were going straight to the east meridian, and he decisively ordered: "The reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats closest to the incident point should go to check immediately. The fleet set off for the sea area. The American warships were heading to the east meridian, and we intercepted them halfway. And surrounded them, making it impossible for them to escape this time."
Major General Matoi Ugaki asked: "Your Excellency, Commander, are you sending land-based fighter jets into the air for defense?"
Yamamoto shook his head and said confidently: "American carrier-based aircraft cannot fly that far. With their fearless range, if they want to threaten the east longitude, they must at least reach waters 350 nautical miles away from Japan." As he spoke, he rarely showed pride. "When the Americans were about to take off, they found that they were surrounded by imperial warships and fighter planes."
Ugaki Matoi nodded. He had accurately calculated that it was impossible for US carrier-based aircraft to bomb the Japanese mainland in the current waters.
The entire Zhudao fleet, which had been prepared for a long time, was dispatched to the waters where the two patrol boats had the accident.
7:36 EDT.
Just when Zhou Zhihan shot down another enemy reconnaissance plane, a Japanese submarine discovered the wreckage of a patrol boat and the corpses of Japanese soldiers floating on the sea. Knowing that something was wrong, the captain hurriedly surfaced and discovered dozens of nautical miles away. The U.S. aircraft carrier battle group immediately sent a clear message: A U.S. aircraft carrier battle group was discovered in the waters 640 nautical miles east longitude...
Before the submarine finished sending the telegram, it saw two American reconnaissance planes flying towards it. It was so frightened that it quickly dived: This is not an exercise, I am being attacked by American planes...
Yamamoto was elated after receiving the telegram and ordered the fleet to move forward at full speed, with bombers and fighters ready. Unlike the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, this time they were fighting at home and would definitely sink the two American aircraft carriers to the bottom of the sea. Haha, the US military is 640 nautical miles east longitude...hehehe...the legs of the Dreadnought are too short.
The Japanese's clear message was immediately known to the Hornet. Haxey knew that there was no secret now and he had to take action immediately, otherwise the entire plan would be ruined.
According to the previously prepared plan, the fleet commander Lieutenant General Haksi immediately ordered the aircraft carrier to advance at full speed against the wind. All B25 bombers were ready to take off, and ordered the pilots of all aircraft carrier-based aircraft to prepare. After the B25 took off, the fleet immediately headed towards the pillar. Support the [Hornet] from the island direction.
Ha Kexi couldn't help but secretly admire Zhou Zhihan. When planning the attack at Pearl Harbor, Colonel Zhou had proposed what to do if the fleet was discovered by the enemy in advance during the attack. Thanks to his persistence at the time, the fleet had an emergency plan. Otherwise, everyone would have been caught off guard and thrown into chaos.
Fortunately, this ace was accompanying him this time, otherwise, the fleet might have been discovered an hour ago.
On the bridge of the USS Hornet.
Huxey shook hands with all the land-based pilots one by one: "I wish you luck. God will bless you."
While everyone was preparing, Jack was looking down and counting how many nautical miles were left to Japan, and then raised his head and told Doolittle: "We are still 630 nautical miles away from east longitude. Taking off from this position, I am not sure whether we can fly to China safely." ..."
All those preparing to take off knew what this sudden change meant.
Everything was planned, even the fuel per gallon was calculated, but now the range was suddenly increased by 110 nautical miles. Moreover, the previous plan was to take off at night for bombing, but now it is changed to daytime, which will greatly affect The chance of success and the chance of the pilot surviving, but the situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, and the pilots are also mentally prepared for this, and everyone wrote a suicide note on the first day at sea.
No one knew that compared to the course of history, Zhou Zhihan had gained 70 more nautical miles for them. This change would likely change the fate of many people.
Doolittle said to Jack: "Let everyone throw away all their carry-on items. Throw away everything on the plane that can be thrown away. Try to bring as many barrels of oil as possible on each plane."
"Yes. Colonel!" Jack went to do it immediately.
Doolittle yelled, "Okay guys, it's time for us to go on stage and beat them up!"
The pilots were both nervous and excited. They took off from the deck of an aircraft carrier for the first time. Although they had practiced taking off many times on land "aircraft carriers" before, the wind direction at sea was erratic, making it more difficult to take off.
The ship's whistle sounded, and the loudspeaker said: "Attention, Army pilots, board the plane immediately and take off!"
All B25 pilots have already prepared and boarded the plane immediately.
I heard that the Army's fighter planes were about to take off soon, and the aircraft carrier was full of people. Now that everyone knew the purpose of the trip, whether they could return the favor to the Japanese depended on whether the 16 Mitchells could take off smoothly.
The aircraft carrier [Hornet] completed its turn and sailed at full speed into the wind to increase the speed of the bombers. Destroyers were escorting all around. All water reconnaissance aircraft took off, vacated the deck, and were on guard around the aircraft carrier to prevent enemy submarines.
Mustang No. 214 has returned and is escorting the bombers at high altitude. When all the bombers take off, he has to land to refuel and add bullets. Although he doesn't lack any of these.
Doolittle took off first. His No. 1 aircraft was at the front of the deck, so his takeoff distance was the shortest, only 152 meters.
Everyone is sweating for Doolittle.
The powerful roar of the B25 made people's ears numb. Doolittle knew that the success or failure of his takeoff would determine everyone's confidence.
Doolittle made a sign of the cross, then stepped on the accelerator and released the handbrake. Immediately the tires started to smoke, and the B25 roared and slid forward quickly.
Standing on the bridge, Huxey held his pipe tightly, eyes unblinking, watching the No. 1 machine moving forward at full speed, and murmured to himself: "May God bless the United States!"
All the pilots preparing to take off were also staring at the No. 1 aircraft. As long as Doolittle could take off, they could take off, because even the second bomber in line to take off had more than ten meters to take off than Doolittle. distance.
"quick......"
Doolittle pushed the throttle all the way and pulled the joystick with all his strength: "Come on...get up..."
Just when the B25's nose landing gear was about to slide across the forefront of the aircraft carrier's flight deck, the bomber's nose was pulled up. Amidst an overwhelming cheer from all the people on the ship, the No. 1 aircraft took off.
Doolittle's successful takeoff gave everyone confidence. The bombers took off one after another. When the last one took off, all the fighters formed a formation and flew towards Japan.
As soon as Mustang No. 214 landed, the mechanics swarmed over and quickly refueled and loaded ammunition.
During this period, F4F Wildcats, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, and SBD Dauntless bombers began to be lifted onto the deck one by one. The aircraft carrier turned and headed towards Zhudao at full speed.
Ten minutes later, Mustang No. 214 finished refueling, quickly took off and flew at ultra-low altitude, catching up with 16 B25s and flying together towards the east longitude.
Just when Yamamoto Isoroku's army came to encircle the U.S. fleet heading to the east longitude, the bomber fleet led by Doolittle had already attacked the east longitude at a very low altitude. At this time, the carrier-based aircraft on the "Enterprise" also did Be ready to take off and attack the empty pillar island of the Japanese army.
