Here's
Hornet in April 1942 with a very unusual airgroup. 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers, as part of the 17th Bomb Group were loaded at NAS Alameda and in company with
Enterprise headed for the Japanese mainland. In gale force conditions all 16 bombers took off, 650 nautical miles from the mainland and dropped bombs on Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya and Kobe. The were led by Lt. Col. James Doolittle and it became known as the Doolittle Raid. Although the damage caused was insignificant, the psychological impact on both the Japanese and American people was great. The bombers then landed in China, were all but 4 of the 80 airmen eventually returned to the US.
The Wildcats on the bow were riding shotgun in case the fleet was discovered by the IJN. The mission remained secret until a few years later. When asked by reporters where the bombers had come from, FDR replied, "Shangri La".