Not
as well known in the UK as the "Dambusters" Raid, The
Doolittle Raid must surely rank as equally daring.
Being
almost suicidal, it stretched the technology of the day to its limit,
combining a first in the launching of such large aircraft from a
'carrier with a plan that precluded a return to the point of
departure, landing or crashing in territory that was uncertain to be
friendly being the ultimate destination.
Made from 16 and 17gauge aluminium and hardwood, this is the closest to what I think is the "Mark Twain Bombsight" that was designed by Charles Ross Greening who was one of the brave flyers on the daring raid of 18th April 1942.
The B25 Mitchell Bombers flew from the Hornet aircraft carrier. The distance involved reducing the weight of the aircraft as much as possible and putting in additional fuel tanks in place. Armament was removed as was the heavy "Nordern" bombsight, which would have been useless at the low altitude the bombs were to be dropped. Greening devised this simple bombsight to replace the Nordern, and by all accounts it was accurate.
Like the "Dambusters Bombsight" that I have produced, I do not claim this to be a replica, just my honest interpretation of it.
NOW WITH A PAPERBACK COPY , USED BUT GOOD CONDITION, "THE FIRST HEROES", BY CRAIG NELSON. AN IN DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF THE RAID AND ITS PLANNING, INC. MANY PHOTOS>