9781422286036

World War II

12

One morning in Tokyo, residents gazed up to see warplanes flying overhead. They were accustomed to seeing Japanese aircraft, but the big planes overhead looked different. Their curiosity quickly turned to shock when the strange planes began dropping bombs. The explosions did only minor damage to the city, but the Japanese people were shaken. The once-distant war had come to their homeland. Doolittle’s raiders zoomed toward China. Before they could land, their planes sputtered and ran out of fuel. Most of the raiders managed to parachute to safety, including Jimmy Doolittle. Their exploits boosted America’s spirits. Suddenly Japan no longer seemed so invincible. The raid worked just as President Roosevelt intended. The B-25 Mitchell bomber was named after General Billy Mitchell, the father of the U.S. Air Force. Mitchell foresaw war with Japan seventeen years before it actually happened. In fact, he predicted the war would begin with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

Text-dependent questions 1. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, what was America’s attitude toward the war?

2. Which three nations were the original Allies? 3. What was the purpose of the Doolittle Raid? Research project

A sailor named Dorie Miller earned the Navy Cross for his bravery at Pearl Harbor. Go to http://www.nationalgeographic. com/pearlharbor/ngbeyond/people/ and read his remarkable story. Then write three questions you would ask Dorie if he were alive today.