Dear Naval Historical Foundation Family,
Welcome back to Thursday Tidings.
Conceived in January 1942 in the wake of the devastating Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the “joint Army-Navy bombing project” was to bomb Japanese industrial centers, to inflict both “material and psychological” damage upon the enemy. Planners hoped that the former would include the destruction of specific targets “with ensuing confusion and retardation of production.” Those who planned the attacks on the Japanese homeland hoped to induce the enemy to recall “combat equipment from other theaters for home defense,” and incite a “fear complex in Japan.” Additionally, it was hoped that the prosecution of the raid would improve the United States’ relationships with its allies and receive a “favorable reaction [on the part] of the American people.” (Naval History and Heritage Command Synopsis)
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the heroism of the daring Doolittle Raid. As such, it is the primary focus for this week's Thursday Tidings. This week also features several articles written by NHF members. Our featured content is a fantastic article written by Kyle Nappi on the Doolittle Raid. Also included this week is a nice article by NHF Member John L. Morris on an artifact connected to the 1844 Princeton disaster.
This week's book reviews by Master Chief David Mattingly and Captain Chuck Good focus on, respectively, photo-reconnaissance during the Vietnam War and Hitler's WWII Navy. We have also once again included some helpful links on the U.S. Navy's role in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
As always, fair winds and following seas shipmates. This email is best viewed as a webpage for your reading convenience and best quality.
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Second Saturday Webinar:
Watch the Full Episode NOW
50th Anniversary -- The North Vietnamese Easter Offensive - the Mining of Haiphong Harbor - Linebacker I, II, and Ending the War
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In this edition of Second Saturday, we're joined by author and historian, Dr. Edward J. Marolda, former Acting Secretary of the US Navy, The Honorable BJ Penn, and former Commander in Chief of Naval Forces Europe, ADM Leighton "Snuffy" Smith, USN (Ret.).
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Upcoming Live NHF Event:
Naval War in the South Atlantic -- 40th Anniversary
(The Fight for the Falklands/Malvinas)
The American Perspective of the Conflict Between Allies Great Britain and Argentina
3 May 2022 | National Museum of the United States Navy
Washington Navy Yard | 4 pm - 6 pm
Reception to Follow
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The Navy Museum will serve as the backdrop for an afternoon seminar followed by a reception as the NHF commemorates the 40th anniversary of the largest naval combat confrontation in the post-World War II era. With the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano (ex-USS Phoenix) torpedoed on 2 May 1982, and the HMS Sheffield crippled two days later, this is an appropriate time to mark the occasion with presentations capturing various aspects of the fight for sea control around this South Atlantic island group.
Featuring Director of Naval History Rear Adm. Sam Cox; Former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, and former DoD officials Norman Polmar and Dov Zakheim.
Sebastian Bruns with the Political Science Department of the U.S. Naval Academy will moderate the event.
If you are interested in attending and do not have a DoD ID, please contact Harold Bryant no later than Monday, 18 April. Email Harold Bryant at [email protected].
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New Oral History Available:
Rear Admiral Martin Carmody, USN (Ret.)
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Rear Admiral Martin D. "Red" Carmody, USN (Ret.) logged over 4,000 flight hours as a naval aviator dating back to the Second World War. He entered the Navy's V-5 cadet pilot training program in 1941 at Corpus Christi, Texas and was designated a naval aviator and commissioned as an ensign in 1942. He flew heroically during World War II and Korea before becoming instrumental in making naval aviation the formidable and effective force it is today. In his many combat assignments, he flew missions in World War II Pacific Theater, Korea and Vietnam.
In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Gold Stars, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, the Air Medal with eight Gold Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with three stars, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Rear Admiral Carmody has the American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two silver stars (ten operations); World War II Victory Medal; China Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam); and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He also has the Korean Presidential Unit Citation Badge and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.
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Navy Museum Store Book Sale
April 19-20 2022
Doors open at 9 AM!
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First Strike, Revisited: Elder Voices from the Doolittle Raid
By Kyle Nappi
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By April 18, 1942, the United States and its allies had suffered repeated setbacks in the war against Imperial Japan, to include the attack on Pearl Harbor, the capture of Wake Island, and the fall of Hong Kong and Singapore. Just nine days earlier, on April 9, the half-starving ammunition-depleted Bataan Peninsula garrison of over 76,000 U.S. and Filipino combatants surrendered – the largest capitulation in American history. As the nation desperately sought a victory, eighty brave airmen were about to answer her siren call and bring the war to Japan.
The brainchild of a U.S. Navy submariner, the Doolittle Raid (as it became known) was the nation’s first joint action of the war. Conceived in January 1942, the plan called for a U.S. Navy carrier to transport U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) bombers to a point near Japan where the aircraft would launch, strike key industrial centers in the enemy’s homeland, and land safely in China. Aviation pioneer and USAAF Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle was selected to lead this inaugural raid over Japan. The USAAF airmen who volunteered for the secret mission underwent three weeks of intensive training, which included short runway takeoffs designed to simulate a carrier deck. Sixteen modified twin-engine B-25s, each manned by a five-person crew, were loaded onto the carrier USS Hornet at Naval Air Station Alameda, California. Joined by her sister carrier, three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, eight destroyers, and two fleet oilers, the Hornet proceeded towards Japan in radio silence.
On the morning of April 18, 1942, as the U.S. Navy Task Force reached a distance some 650 nautical miles of Japan, the Hornet “sighted [a] strange ship apparently enemy gunboat of about 300 tons bearing 216 true distant about 15000 yards” This radio-equipped Japanese fishing trawler – one of many early warning boats reconnoitering offshore – spotted the American armada and radioed its position to the mainland shortly before the U.S. Navy’s light cruiser USS Nashville dispatched her to the deep. With the secrecy of Doolittle’s mission potentially compromised, the order was given to immediately launch the B-25s some 250 miles shy of their prescribed departure point.
“Army pilot, man your planes!” blared over Hornet’s loudspeaker as the raiders hurried to their bombers. Crew #15 engineer Edward Saylor discussed the math required for takeoff from the Hornet’s 467-foot flight deck as the carrier pitched in the cold, rainy, and wind-swept heavy seas. “We had about a twenty-five knot headwind, then the carrier speed was about twenty-five so that’s about fifty and we were looking for seventy. So, with the acceleration of the airplane, we had plenty of lift for takeoff.” Each launch required great skill and timing from the Hornet’s flight deck crew to prevent the B-25s from plowing into the sea, especially as heavy swells poured over the flattop’s bow.
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Pacific War in Color - Episode 1 |
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The Pacific War in Color is a “must-see” for those of us who are interested and involved in the naval history of World War ll in the Pacific Ocean theater. Consisting of never seen before rare color movies of both the home and professional variety, the eight-episode series promises to offer some never seen movie footage and new insights into that great conflict in the Pacific theater.
Episode 1, An Ocean Apart, concludes with color footage of Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle’s daring raid on the Japanese mainland with B-25s flying off the deck of the carrier USS Hornet. This action provided a much-needed boost to American morale. The viewer is left with the thought that even though the foes are oceans apart at this time, the young men involved will eventually have to fight face to face before the conflict’s resolution.
Skip forward to 47:00 to view the segment.
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Doolittle Raid Infographic |
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This infographic shares the history of the Doolittle Raid – how America struck back after Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Navy graphic by Annalisa Underwood/Released) |
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Doolittle Raid Picture Gallery
(Naval History and Heritage Command)
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View looking aft and to port from the island of USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Vincennes (CA-44) is in the distance. Several of the mission's sixteen B-25B bombers are visible. That in the foreground is tail # 40-2261, which was mission plane # 7, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Ted W. Lawson. The next plane is tail # 40-2242, mission plane # 8, piloted by Captain Edward J. York. Both aircraft attacked targets in the Tokyo area. Lt. Lawson later wrote the book Thirty Seconds over Tokyo. Note searchlight at left.
(NHHC Photo #NH 53293)
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Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, USAAF (front), leader of the raiding force, wires a Japanese medal to a 500-pound bomb, during ceremonies on the flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8), shortly before his force of sixteen B-25B bombers took off for Japan. The planes were launched on 18 April 1942. The wartime censor has obscured unit patches of the Air Force flight crew members in the background.
(NARA Photograph #80-G-41191)
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View looking aft from the island of USS Hornet (CV-8), while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Nashville (CL-43) is in the distance. Eight of the mission's sixteen B-25B bombers are visible on the carrier's flight deck. Aircraft at right is tail #40-2250, which was mission plane #10, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Richard O. Joyce, which attacked targets in the Tokyo area.
(NHHC Photo #NH 53421)
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Carrier Revealed as Base for Air Raid on Tokyo
(Naval History and Heritage Command/YouTube)
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(National Archives Footage – Local ID Number: 208-UN-48) |
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Eyes of the Fleet Over Vietnam: RF-8 Crusader Combat Photo-Reconnaissance Missions
By Kenneth V. Jack
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Reviewed by ISCM (AW) David Mattingly, USN Ret.
A mix of airframes; fighters, light attack planes, and helicopters all made up the carrier air wings on Yankee Station during the Vietnam War. Most notably, the RF-8 Crusader piloted by Navy and Marine Corps aviators flew over enemy territory as the “eyes of the fleet.” Kenneth Jack, a Navy photographers mate assigned to Navy Light Photographic Squadron 62 (VFP-62), has gathered the story of the RF-8, its pilots, and maintainers from unofficial and official sources including reels of archived reconnaissance film shot over North Vietnam by RF-8 photo pilots.
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Hitler's Navy: The Kriegsmarine in World War II
By Gordon Williamson
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Reviewed by CAPT Charles Good, USN (Ret.)
Broad in scope and rich in detail, Hitler’s Navy is a comprehensive overview of the ships, organization, and sailors of the Kriegsmarine. As befits Osprey’s core competency in producing monographs of famous ships and classes, the work is lavishly illustrated and full of technical detail. For those seeking focused accounts of famous campaigns or battles, such as the River Plate, Denmark Strait or the Norwegian Campaign, this is not the work. These engagements have been the focus of many previous works, and the author chooses to give them a minimalist summary in his first chapter. But Hitler’s Navy makes up for the lack of fighting narrative in its ambitious breadth.
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If you are interested in World War II history, please consider reviewing Escape from Java: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the USS Marblehead, by John J. Domagalski.
Guidelines for getting involved in the NHF Book Review program can be found here,
and a list of titles available for review can be found here.
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History in the Making: The U.S. Navy and the Ukranian Crisis -- Select Links and Topics of Interest
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We are currently witnessing history in the making with the situation involving the Russian invasion of Ukraine beginning last week. How does the U.S. Navy fit in? How are strategists, theorists, and journalists gauging the role of the U.S. Navy in any impending conflict? Here are several articles of note that seek to answer these questions as the situation progresses. Article opinions reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any stance by the Naval Historical Foundation.
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Artifact Connected to USS Princeton disaster, 1844
By John L. Morris
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Pictured is a shot gauge for round shot for a 12-inch naval gun, dated 1843, made at the Washington Navy Yard, DC. The marking line “12 * 11 * 80” means it is for a 12-inch gun, and allowing for windage, the maximum diameter of the shot is 11.80 inches, the inside diameter of the steel ring. Other markings include the date and place of manufacture “U * S * W * N * Y” (United States Washington Navy Yard). The reverse appears identical but is unmarked. Each shot intended for loading into the 12-inch gun was rolled along a trough a short distance with the ring gauge encircling it to ensure no shots were over-diameter in any plane. This was done as part of the inspection/acceptance process for the shot when delivered from the contractor.
USS Princeton was armed with two experimental 12-inch wrought-iron guns, one of which, dubbed “Peacemaker,” exploded during a demonstration for many embarked dignitaries, killing several and wounding many. This was almost certainly the shot gauge used to inspect the 11.8 inch diameter shot loaded aboard Princeton before her fateful cruise on the Potomac River. No 12-inch guns were owned by the US Navy during that period of history, save the four 12-inch guns that were built for this project, driven by notable US Navy CAPT. Robert F. Stockton. One was cast iron and exploded during testing ashore. Of the three wrought-iron guns built, one exploded aboard Princeton as mentioned, and the other two are now displayed in the Washington Navy Yard and at the US Naval Academy respectively (the latter pictured here).
Artifact pictured: Private collection of Virginia antique dealer. The most comprehensive article known to the author, encompassing the entire episode is here.
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Meet the Roma: The Super World War II Battleship History ...
While not remembered by general naval historians, Italy's World War II battleship fleet was quite powerful. The Roma was one such battleship that history should never forget. She might not be as powerful as the Iowa or Yamato, but she could pack...
Read more
www.19fortyfive.com
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Tax Day and the U.S. Navy
Monday 18 April 2022
Did you know?
The first estate tax is enacted to fund the U.S. Navy? It was repealed but reinstituted over the years, often in response to the need to finance wars. The modern estate tax as we know it was implemented in 1916.
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ASANOR Conference 2022
"Appalling Ocean, Verdant Land: America and the Sea"
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Nord University (Bodø, Norway) will be hosting the 2022 Conference for the American Studies Association of Norway (ASANOR): “Appalling Ocean, Verdant Land: America and the Sea” from 29 September – 1 October 2022. One of our participants drew our attention to your organization and so we thought we might share the CFP with your curators, in case any of them were interested in attending the conference to speak about your collections or relevant exhibitions. The deadline for proposals is 8 April 2022 (though it is somewhat flexible) and there are some stipends available to graduate students traveling to the conference from outside of Norway.
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Remembering Midway: Remembering Doolittle Raid on Apple ...
In this first segment of the four-part series - Remembering Midway this year marks the 67th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Four months after that attack, a daring plan was conceived to bomb targets on the Japanese mainland. Gen. James ...
Read more
podcasts.apple.com
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Jimmy Doolittle and the Doolittle Raid * Stuff You...
The Doolittle Raid was an attack on Japan launched by the U.S. in retaliation for Pearl Harbor. But the leader of the mission was a legend long before his daring efforts in WWII. Learn more about your ad-choices at...
Read more
podcastaddict.com
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Doolittle Raid - 3 Hour Documentary
(DroneScapes/YouTube)
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The Doolittle Raid Strikes Back on Tokyo
(History Channel/YouTube)
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Dan Snow's History Hit - The Doolittle Raid
Today, we're talking about one of the great stories of American military history; The Doolittle Raid. In 1942 after the humiliation assault on Pearl Harbour and determined to show that America still had offensive capabilities the charismatic...
Read more
podcasts.google.com
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This Day in Naval History - 14 April
Produced by NHHC
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If you would like to recommend online content to be passed on to our Naval Historical Foundation Members in an upcoming edition of Thursday Tidings, please email Matt Eng, at: [email protected]
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Did you know that the Naval Historical Foundation participates in the Combined Federal Campaign? Our CFC number is: 11010
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