The B-25s formed groups of two or four because fuel, time, and reduced radio equipment limited their ability to assemble a larger formation. They struck military-industrial targets in Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka. No bomber was shot down over Japan, although one suffered minor anti-aircraft damage and another jettisoned its bombs after fighter attack and a turret malfunction. Fifteen aircraft continued toward China and were permanently lost, while one landed in the Soviet Union and its crew was interned. Most raiders reached safety, but eight were captured and some died during their escape or in China. Chinese people who helped the crews faced Japanese reprisals, with one cited estimate putting the Chinese death toll during the subsequent hunt at roughly 250,000.
Chapter · 3:30:10-3:35:48
The B-25s strike Japan and disperse toward China
Small bomber groups strike Japan, then face aircraft losses, internment, capture, and Japanese reprisals against Chinese communities.