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Which World War II raid is depicted in Thirty Seconds over Tokyo?
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The film Thirty Seconds over Tokyo (1944), directed by Mervyn LeRoy, depicts the Doolittle Raid, which took place on April 18, 1942.12
Led by Lieut. Col. James H. Doolittle, this mission was the first U.S. air raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The operation involved launching 16 B-25 bombers from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Hornet, marking the first time medium bombers were launched from such a vessel. While the raid caused limited physical damage, it was a significant morale booster for the Allies and forced Japan to shift military resources to improve its air defenses.134