Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:12:30-1:12:38

P-38s could attempt the Doolittle Raid, but B-25s remain the better choice

A very short counterfactual accepts P-38 feasibility while retaining the B-25 Mitchell as the preferable aircraft for the raid.

B-25 MitchellDoolittle RaidNaval AviationP-38 LightningWorld War II
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Question

Could the Doolittle Raid have been conducted with P-38s instead of B-25s?

Short answer

It could have been attempted with P-38s, but the B-25 was the better choice.

Notes

The counterfactual substitutes P-38 Lightnings for the B-25 Mitchells used in the Doolittle Raid. The mission could have been attempted with P-38s, but the B-25 remains the better choice. The short reply does not explain range, payload, launch, or recovery constraints. The comparison therefore remains a limited judgment rather than a complete feasibility analysis.