24. Finding the Right Plane for the Job
Jimmy Doolittle had revolutionized aviation by pioneering instrument flying, which allowed pilots to take off, fly, and land airplanes regardless of visibility. However, in addition to being a reservist rather than an active-duty officer, Doolittle had no combat experience – during World War I, he served in the US as a flight instructor. That Hap Arnold chose him to organize such a vital mission despite such perceived drawbacks bespoke high confidence. Doolittle immediately set out to demonstrate that the trust of the USAAF’s commanding general in him was not misplaced.
His first task was to pick the right bomber. It needed to have a range of roughly 2400 nautical miles, while carrying a 2000-pound bomb load. The options included the Douglas B-18 Bolo, the Douglas B-23 Dragon, and the Martin B-26 Marauder. However, the B-18 and B-23 had great wingspans, which was problematic for carrier operation. The risk of hitting the superstructure was high, and they took up a lot of space, so the number that could be taken aboard a carrier was low. The B-26 did not have that problem, but its takeoff characteristics were not well suited for a carrier deck. So Doolittle considered an untested airplane, the North American B-25 Mitchell.
