The Tokyo Raid

The Tokyo Raid, carried out on April 18, 1942, was the first air raid by the United States against Japan during World War II. It involved B-25 Mitchell bombers launched from aircraft carriers, targeting Tokyo and other industrial areas. The objective was to demonstrate U.S. military capability and to disrupt Japan's war effort. Although the damage was relatively limited and Japan's defenses inflicted some losses on the attackers, the raid marked a significant step in escalating the Pacific theater of the war, demonstrating that Japan was vulnerable to air attacks from the sea.