After another 15 minutes, another reconnaissance plane returned to the top of the Enterprise and dropped a bamboo tube on the deck: the Japanese patrol boat closest to us did not notice us. They changed direction and drove quickly towards the Hornet. Another Japanese reconnaissance plane was also diverted halfway and flew to the Hornet.

Captain Colonel George D. Morrie breathed a sigh of relief: "The enemy's patrol boats and reconnaissance planes were attracted by the Hornets, and ordered the fleet to move forward at full speed. All pilots were ready to take off at any time..."

Column Island.

[Yamato] on the battleship.

Iroku Yamamoto, who was so excited that he had not slept all night, received a report that two reconnaissance boats were unable to contact, and the radio was closed. It was probably because he encountered the enemy situation and was sunk before he could send a report.

Yamamoto judged that the Americans were heading straight to the east, so he decisively ordered: "The reconnaissance planes and patrol boats closest to the incident will go to check immediately. The fleet set off to the sea area, and the American warships went to the east. We intercepted and surrounded it halfway, which made them unable to escape this time."

Major General Ugaki Chan asked: "Your Excellency Commander, have you sent land-based fighter jets to air defense?"

Yamamoto shook his head and said confidently: "The Americans' carrier-based aircraft cannot fly that far. With a fearless voyage, if you want to threaten the East Longitude, you must reach at least 350 nautical miles away from Japan." He said that, he rarely smiled proudly, "When the Americans were about to take off, they found that around them were full of imperial warships and fighter jets."

Ugaki Chan nodded. He calculated accurately that it would be impossible for American carrier-based aircraft to bomb Japan's current waters.

The entire Zhudao Fleet, which had been prepared, was dispatched to the waters where the two patrol boats were in trouble.

7:36 EST.

Just when Zhou Zhihan shot down another enemy reconnaissance aircraft, a Japanese submarine discovered the wreckage of the patrol boat floating on the sea and the bodies of the Japanese army. The captain knew that something was wrong, so he quickly floated up and found a US aircraft carrier battle group dozens of nautical miles away. He immediately sent a clear message: In the waters 640 nautical miles east longitude, the US aircraft carrier battle group was discovered...

Before the submarine's telegram was sent, I saw two American reconnaissance planes flying towards this side. I was so scared that I quickly dived: This is not an exercise, I am being attacked by American aircraft...

After receiving the telegram, Yamamoto was overjoyed and ordered the fleet to advance at full speed, and the bombers and fighters were ready. Unlike the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, they were fighting at home this time and they would definitely sink two American aircraft carriers to the bottom of the sea. Haha, the US military was 640 nautical miles east longitude... Hahaha... The fearless legs are too short.

The Japanese clearly sent a newspaper, and they were immediately known by the [Bumblebee]. Haksey knew that there was no secret at all and had to do it immediately, otherwise the whole plan would be ruined.

According to the plan prepared before, the fleet commander Lieutenant General Haksey immediately ordered the aircraft carrier to advance at full speed against the wind, all B25 bombers were ready to take off, and ordered all aircraft carrier-based pilots to prepare. After the B25 took off, the fleet immediately supported the [Hornet] towards the direction of the pillar island.

Haxi couldn't help but admire Zhou Zhihan. When planning this raid at Pearl Harbor, Colonel Zhou proposed what to do if the fleet was discovered by the enemy in advance during the raid? Fortunately, his insistence at the time, the fleet had an emergency plan. Otherwise, everyone would definitely be caught off guard and in chaos.

Fortunately, this time, this ace was accompanied, otherwise the fleet might have been discovered an hour ago.

[Bunny] on the bridge.

Haxi shook hands with all the land-based pilots one by one: "I wish you luck. God will bless you."

Just as everyone was preparing, Jack was lowering his head and counting how many nautical miles he was from Japan, and then looked up and told Doolittle: "We are still 630 nautical miles away from the east longitude. From this position, I can't be sure if I can fly to China safely..."

All the people who were preparing to take off knew what this sudden change meant.

Everything was planned, even each gallon of fuel was calculated, but now the voyage of 110 nautical miles was suddenly increased. Moreover, the previous plan was to take off and bomb at night, but now it was changed during the day. This will greatly affect the chances of success and the chances of pilots' survival. However, the situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, and the pilots are mentally prepared for this. Everyone wrote their suicide note on the first day of going to sea.

No one knows that compared with the historical process, Zhou Zhihan has won them an additional 70 nautical miles of distance. This change may change the fate of many people.

Doolittle said to Jack: "Let everyone throw away all the items they carry with them, throw away all the things they can on the plane, and bring as many more barrels of oil on each plane as possible."

"Yes, Colonel!" Jack went to do it immediately.

Doolittle shouted: "Okay guys, it's time for us to perform on stage, go to Dongjing to beat them!"

The pilots were both nervous and excited. They took off on the aircraft carrier deck for the first time. Although they had practiced takeoff on land "aircraft carriers" many times before, the wind direction at sea was volatile and it was more difficult to take off.

The sound of the whistle sounded on the ship, and the speaker came from: "Please be careful, Army pilots, board the plane immediately and take off!"

All B25 pilots were ready and boarded immediately.

I heard that the Army's fighter jets were about to take off, and the aircraft carrier was full of people. Now everyone knows the purpose of this trip. Whether it can reward the Japanese will depend on whether these 16 Mitchells can take off successfully.

[Bunny] After the turn of the aircraft carrier, it was driving at full speed in the wind. To increase the speed of the bomber, destroyers escorted the surroundings, all water reconnaissance planes took off, freed up the deck, and guarded around the aircraft carrier to prevent enemy submarines.

The No. 214 Mustang has returned and is escorted at high altitude. When all the bombers take off, he has to land and refuel and add bullets. Although he has no shortage of these.

Doolittle took off first, and his No. 1 was at the front of the deck, so his takeoff distance was the shortest, only 152 meters.

Everyone was worried about Doolittle.

The powerful roar of B25 made people's ears numb. Doolittle knew that his success or failure of his takeoff would determine everyone's confidence.

Doolittle drew a cross, then vigorously throttle, put the handbrake, immediately the tires started to smoke, and the B25 roared and quickly glided forward.

Haxi, standing on the bridge, held his pipe tightly, his eyes unblinking. He watched the No. 1 move forward at full speed, murmured to himself: "May God bless the United States!"

All pilots who were preparing to take off were also staring at the No. 1 aircraft. As long as Doolittle could take off, they could take off, because even the bomber ranked second had a takeoff distance of more than ten meters higher than Doolittle.

"quick......"

Doolittle throttle pushes it to the end, pulling the joystick with both hands: "Come on... get up..."

Just as the front landing gear of the B25 was about to slide across the forefront of the aircraft carrier flight deck, the bomber's nose was pulled up, and amid the cheers of all the personnel on the ship, the No. 1 took off into the air.

Doolittle's successful takeoff brought confidence to everyone. The bombers took off one after another. When the last one took off, all the fighter jets formed a formation and flew towards Japan.

As soon as the No. 214 Mustang landed, the mechanics rushed forward and quickly refueled.

During this period, the F4F Wildcat, TBF Avengers torpedo bomber, and SBD fearless bomber were lifted up to the deck one by one, and the aircraft carrier turned and headed towards the pillar island at full speed.

More than ten minutes later, the No. 214 Mustang refueled, took off quickly and flew at an ultra-low altitude, caught up with 16 B25s, and flew eastward together.
Chapter completed!