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THE RAID ON
TOKIO
'
Carriers Crowded
With Bombers
NEW YORK, April 20 (A.A.P.).
Aircraft carriers from which
Mitchell bombers under Major-
General Doolittle bombed Tokio a
year ago had first to destroy two
Japanese fishing boats and a
destroyer. First details of the
take-off are given by. George
Radulovich, a. member of . the
crew of a carrier which sent off
80 American fliers.
Radulovich said the carrier part
of the fleet left the west coast a
fortnight before the raid. "We
were not told our destination,"
he- went on: "Our .flight deck was
so crowded with Mitchells that
our own fighters and patrol planes
were' kept below tlie decks. An
other carrier furnished air pro
tection. About 350 miles from
Japan two fishing .boats and a
destroyer were promptly shelled.
Major-General Doolittle piloted
the. first 'plane from the deck 250
miles from Japan, and circled
until all the planes were air
borne." ... ...
; The1 United Press correspondent
Tiv- Washington points : out - that .lt
VoqfeJwd ; skilful -airmanship ito -l|f t.
the . 13-tori VMltchells from the
carrier's 800 feet deck. Normally
a 2500.- feet land runway was -con
sidered essential, for such craft.
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