B-25 #02344 taking off from U.S.S. Hornet, 18 APRIL 1942, 08:20 ship time

(J.H. Doolittle, pilot; R.E. Cole, co-pilot; H.A. Potter, navigator, F.A. Breamer, bombardier,
P.J. Leonard, engineer/gunner)

"With full flaps, engines at full throttle and his left wing far over the port side of the Hornet, Doolittle's plane waddled and then lunged slowly into the teeth of the gale that swept down the deck. His left wheel stuck on the white line as if it were a track. His right wing, which had barely cleared the wall of the island as he taxied and was guided up to the starting line, extended nearly to the edge of the starboard side.

We watched him like hawks, wondering what the wind would do to him, and whether we could get off in that little run toward the bow. If he couldn't, we couldn't.

Doolittle picked up more speed and held to his line, and, just as the Hornet lifted up on top of a wave and cut through it at top speed, Doolittle's plane took off. He had yards to spare. He hung his plane almost straight up on its props, until we could see the whole top of his B-25. Then he leveled off and I watched him come around in a tight circle and shoot low over our heads - straight down the white line painted on the deck."

Ted Lawson
Pilot, crew #7, a/c #40-2261