SEPTEMBER 25

On this date in 1929, Jimmy Doolittle performed the first strictly-instrument airplane flight. He flew blind and proved instrument take-off and landing could be done.  This was a significant advance in aviation and is even more significant because thirteen years later, this same brave pilot led a raid on Japan during World War II which shook our enemy and built American morale by proving we could reach and attack their homeland.

Doolittle's Raiders (16 in all) flew B-25 bombers from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier in the Pacific to Japan knowing that they could not return.  These big bombers did not have the fuel to get back to the carrier.  They bombed Japan and flew onward toward China.  Most did not reach an airfield there and bailed out.

Doolittle received the Medal of Honor from President Franklin Roosevelt for planning and leading the raid on Japan.
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