The Doolittle Raid 1942, America's first strike back at Japan; Classic Battles by Clayton K.S.; Illustrated by Howard Gerrard Chun (2006-05-04)In early 1942, the strategic situation was bleak for the United States. She had been in continual retreat since Pearl Harbor, surrendering major areas such as the Philippines, and was preparing for the worst in Hawaii and on the West Coast. The Japanese, on the other hand, had secured a well defended perimeter, and was set for further expansion. Something needed to happen quickly and be of considerable impact and the combined arms, April 1942