Commemorating the 70th anniversary and commending the brave men of the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) who became known as the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders" for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombing of Tokyo on April 18, 1942.

Whereas brave American aircraft crewmen, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, volunteered for an “extremely hazardous mission” without knowing the target, location, or assignment and willingly put their lives in harm’s way, risking death, capture, and torture;

Whereas the conducting of medium bomber operations from a Navy aircraft carrier under combat conditions had never before been attempted;

Whereas after the discovery of the USS Hornet by Japanese picket ships 170 miles further away from the prearranged launch point, the Raiders proceeded to take off 670 miles from the coast of Japan;

Whereas by launching more than 100 miles beyond the distance considered to be minimally safe for the mission, the Raiders deliberately accepted the risk that the B–25s might not have enough fuel to reach the designated air-fields in China;

Whereas the additional launch distance greatly increased the risk of crash landing in Japanese occupied China, exposing the crews to higher probability of death, injury, or capture;

Whereas because of that deliberate choice, after bombing their targets in Japan, low on fuel and in setting night and deteriorating weather, none of the 16 airplanes reached the prearranged Chinese airfields;

Whereas of the 80 Raiders who launched on the raid, 8 were captured, 2 died in the crash, and 70 returned to the United States; and

Whereas of the 8 captured, 3 were executed and 1 died of disease: Now, therefore, be it