After loading 16 North American Aviation B-25B Mitchell medium bombers and their crews of the 17th Bombardment Group at NAS Alameda, the recently commissioned aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) departed San Francisco Bay with her escorts and headed for a secret rendezvous with Admiral William F. Halsey and Task Force 16. The carrier was under command of Captain Marc A. Mitscher, USN. The strike group was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James H. ('Jimmy') Doolittle, USAAF. Until the second day at sea, only six US military officers knew of the mission. This photograph shows some of the bombers secured on Hornet’s flight deck. An escorting destroyer, USS Gwin (DD-433) is closing from astern, with light cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43) in the distance. Two more ships are on the horizon.
