In 1942, U.S. Army Air Force B-25 bombers launched from the USS Hornet and attacked the Japanese mainland. Who suffered most as a result of this raid?

-The Chinese-

U.S aircrews received assistance from Chinese. As a result, the Japanese Imperial Army conducted a massive sweep through the eastern coastal provinces of China, in an operation now known as the" Zhejiang". The Japanese killed an estimated 10,000 Chinese civilians during their "search" for U.S aircrews. Some estimates are that as many as 250,000 Chinese were killed during the "campaign".

** Other Damage:

-Japan - The Tokyo Raid did little material damage to Japan.

-Navy – The navy transported bombers and crew to Japan at great risk, two Navy men lost their lives, one lost his arm on launch.

-Army Air Force - Of the sixteen planes and 80 airmen who participated in the raid, all either crash-landed, were ditched or crashed. Total crew casualties: 3 KIA: 8 POW: 3 executed, 1 died in captivity, 4 repatriated. The raid achieved its goal of raising American morale and casting doubt in Japan on the ability of its military leaders to defend their home islands.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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9 Comments

Samuel Anhalt

If you had ask who suffered the most casualties then your answer is correct, but The Japanese people had been told they were invulnerable ... An attack on the Japanese homeland would cause confusion in the minds of the Japanese people and sow doubt about the reliability of their leaders. There was a second, and equally important, psychological reason for this attack ... Americans badly needed a morale boost.

David Lamoreaux

One plane landed in Vladivostok, Russia and the crew eventually were freed.

Al Breyette

Poor question,more than one correct answer the way it is phrased. Per loss of life it was the Chinese but the raid did so much more psychological damage damage to the Japanese who thought they were invulnerable to attack. Question needed to be more specific.

teacherchicky

I'm so thankful for my extra degree in history during questions like this! The reason the Chinese suffered more from this attack was because of the Japanese retaliation and over 200,000 Chinese died because of Doolittle's raid!

Mr.LaFaye

Samuel Anhalt, you are very correct

Richard G. Gomsrud

Great question. I can't think of any portrayal of the raid that adequately shows what the Japanese did in retaliation for assisting the Doolittle Raiders, nor do most histories. The Japanese did not observe the Geneva Convention so the term POW sticks in my craw. They treated all prisoners as slave labor and worse. Of the 8 that the answer characterizes as POWs only 4 made it to liberation due to their treatment. Contrary to the Geneva Convention 3 others were executed after a kangaroo court trial. One crew landed in Russian and were interned as per the Geneva Convention.