Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

Before the Doolittle Raiders flew to Tokyo, it seemed that Japan would win the war.  American losses were significant, and Japan controlled a great deal of territory in Asia. 

Although the Raiders did not cause a great deal of physical damage during their mission, the psychological impact was profound.  It seemed only a matter of time before sixteen B-25 Mitchell Bombers (the Doolittle group) would be followed by swarms of B-29s which could get Japan to the negotiating table.

This film, based on the eponymous book by Ted Lawson, was released in November of 1944.

Credits

Trailer from Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, a 1944 film directed by Mervyn LeRoy, screenplay by Dalton Trumbo (based on Ted W. Lawson's book, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo) and starring Van Johnson (among others).

Video clip online, courtesy Archive.org.